83 FR 26009 - Marine Mammals; File No. 21719

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 108 (June 5, 2018)

Page Range		26009-26010
FR Document		2018-12001

Notice is hereby given that NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, MA (Responsible Party: John Hare), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on four species of pinnipeds.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26009-26010]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12001]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG094


Marine Mammals; File No. 21719

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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[[Page 26010]]

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, Woods Hole, MA (Responsible Party: John Hare), has applied in 
due form for a permit to conduct research on four species of pinnipeds.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 5, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
``Features'' box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 21719 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the Permits and Conservation Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include the File No. in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the 
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Young or Shasta McClenahan, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit to take harbor seals 
(Phoca vitulina), gray seals (Halichoerus grypus), harp seals 
(Pagophilus groenlandicus), and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) 
during stock assessment research, including estimation of distribution 
and abundance, determination of stock structure, habitat requirements, 
foraging ecology, health assessment, and effects of natural and 
anthropogenic factors. Types of take include harassment during ground, 
vessel, or aerial surveys, and scat collection; and capture with tissue 
sampling and instrument or tag attachment. The applicant proposes to 
capture up to 200 harbor seals, 400 gray seals, five harp seals, and 
five hooded seals annually for measurement of body condition, 
biological sampling (e.g., blood, blubber biopsy, skin, hair, swab 
samples, and vibrissae), and attachment of telemetry devices. Up to 
27,175 harbor seals and 66,700 gray seals could be harassed annually 
incidental to surveys, scat collections, and capture operations. The 
applicant also requests research-related mortalities of up to 5 gray 
seals, 5 harbor seals, 1 harp seal, and 1 hooded seal per year. 
Permission is also sought to import and export pinniped specimen 
material (including soft and hard tissue, blood, extracted DNA, and 
whole dead animals or parts thereof) worldwide. The study area includes 
waters within or proximal to the U.S. EEZ from North Carolina northward 
to Maine, and Canadian waters in the Gulf of Maine.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: May 31, 2018.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-12001 Filed 6-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2018 / Notices 26009

information. This information allows DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE threatened under the ESA. The purpose
the Office of Coast Survey to administer of the RMP is to manage commercial,
the regulation, and to better understand National Oceanic and Atmospheric recreational, ceremonial, and
the marketplace resulting in products to Administration subsistence salmon fisheries potentially
that meet the needs of the customer in RIN 0648–XG053 affecting the Puget Sound Chinook
a timely and efficient manner. Salmon ESU within the marine and
Notice of Intent To Prepare an freshwater areas of Puget Sound, from
II. Method of Collection
Environmental Impact Statement; the entrance of the Strait of Juan de
Responses from the Certified ENC Extension of Public Comment Period Fuca inward, including fisheries under
Distributors are all electronic and sent the jurisdiction of the Pacific Salmon
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Commission’s Fraser River Panel. In
via email. All distributors have an Excel
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and order for NMFS to make a positive
spreadsheet which they submit for the
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), determination under Limit 6 on the
twice-yearly report.
Commerce. RMP, NMFS must conclude that the
III. Data ACTION: Notice of intent; extension of RMP’s management framework is
public comment period. consistent with the criteria under Limit
OMB Control Number: 0648–0508.
6. Limit 6 applies to RMPs developed
Form Number(s): None. SUMMARY: NMFS is extending the public jointly by the states of Washington,
Type of Review: Regular submission comment period for the Notice of Intent Oregon and/or Idaho and the tribes
(extension of a currently approved (NOI) to Prepare an Environmental within the continuing jurisdiction of
information collection). Impact Statement (EIS) to inform its United States v. Washington or United
decision of whether to determine that a States v. Oregon.
Affected Public: Not-for-profit
resource management plan (RMP) NMFS provided notice to advise other
institutions; business or other for-profits
jointly developed by the Washington agencies and the public of our plan to
organizations.
Department of Fish and Wildlife analyze effects related to NMFS 4(d)
Estimated Number of Respondents: 8. (WDFW) and the Puget Sound Tribes determination and co-manager
Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour (Tribes), collectively the co-managers, implementation of the RMP and to
to provide a distribution report twice a meets requirements under Limit 6 of the obtain suggestions and information that
year, 12 hours for reporting of errors in Endangered Species Act (ESA) 4(d) rule may be useful to the scope of issues and
the ENC (approximately 4 per month, for the ESA-listed Puget Sound Chinook alternatives to include in the EIS (83 FR
usually each distributor will catch the salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit 19528, May 3, 2018), and requested
same issue). (ESU), which is listed as threatened comments be received by June 4, 2018.
Estimated Total Annual Burden under the ESA. The NOI was published NMFS has decided to extend the public
Hours: 88. in the Federal Register on Thursday, comment period on the NOI by 14 days
May 3, 2018. The public comment to Monday, June 18, 2018, to allow
Estimated Total Annual Cost to period on the NOI was originally
Public: $0 in recordkeeping/reporting opportunity for the public to review
scheduled to end June 4, 2018. NMFS is additional information on this project,
costs. extending that comment period by 14 available on the NMFS West Coast
IV. Request for Comments days and will now consider comments Region website: http://
received through June 18, 2018. www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
DATES: The deadline for receipt of fisheries/salmon_steelhead/puget_
the proposed collection of information
comments on the NOI published on May sound_fisheries.html.
is necessary for the proper performance
3, 2018 (83 FR 19528), is extended to
of the functions of the agency, including Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR
June 18, 2018. Written or electronic 1500–1508; and Companion Manual for
whether the information shall have
scoping comments must be received at NOAA Administrative Order 216–6A, 82 FR
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
the appropriate address or email 4306.
agency’s estimate of the burden
mailbox (see ADDRESSES) on or before Dated: May 30, 2018.
(including hours and cost) of the
June 18, 2018.
proposed collection of information; (c) Angela Somma,
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office
clarity of the information to be be sent to Barry A. Thom, Regional of Protected Resources, National Marine
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the Administrator, West Coast Region, Fisheries Service.
burden of the collection of information NMFS, Attn: Emi Kondo, 1201 NE Lloyd [FR Doc. 2018–11971 Filed 6–4–18; 8:45 am]
on respondents, including through the Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
use of automated collection techniques 97232. Comments may also be sent by
or other forms of information email to ps2018rmp.wcr@noaa.gov.
technology. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emi DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Kondo, NMFS West Coast Region,
Comments submitted in response to National Oceanic and Atmospheric
telephone: 503–736–4739, email:
this notice will be summarized and/or Administration
emi.kondo@noaa.gov.
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection; SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On RIN 0648–XG094
they also will become a matter of public Thursday, May 3, 2018, NMFS
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

record. published an NOI to prepare an EIS to Marine Mammals; File No. 21719
inform its decision of whether to AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Dated: May 31, 2018. determine that an RMP jointly
Sarah Brabson, Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
developed by the co-managers, meets Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. requirements under Limit 6 of the ESA Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2018–12026 Filed 6–4–18; 8:45 am] 4(d) rule for the Puget Sound Chinook
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P Salmon ESU, which is listed as

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26010 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2018 / Notices

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that attachment. The applicant proposes to stock assessment for main Hawaiian
NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science capture up to 200 harbor seals, 400 gray Islands Kona crab.
Center, Woods Hole, MA (Responsible seals, five harp seals, and five hooded DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Party: John Hare), has applied in due seals annually for measurement of body for meeting dates and times and daily
form for a permit to conduct research on condition, biological sampling (e.g., agenda.
four species of pinnipeds. blood, blubber biopsy, skin, hair, swab
samples, and vibrissae), and attachment ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
of telemetry devices. Up to 27,175 the Western Pacific Fishery
comments must be received on or before
harbor seals and 66,700 gray seals could Management Council office at 1164
July 5, 2018.
be harassed annually incidental to Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI
ADDRESSES: The application and related 96813.
documents are available for review by surveys, scat collections, and capture
selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public operations. The applicant also requests FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on research-related mortalities of up to 5 Michael Seki, Director—NMFS Pacific
the Applications and Permits for gray seals, 5 harbor seals, 1 harp seal, Islands Fisheries Science Center
Protected Species (APPS) home page, and 1 hooded seal per year. Permission (PIFSC), telephone: (808) 725–5360.
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then is also sought to import and export SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PIFSC
selecting File No. 21719 from the list of pinniped specimen material (including conducted a draft 2018 benchmark stock
available applications. soft and hard tissue, blood, extracted assessment for main Hawaiian Islands
These documents are also available DNA, and whole dead animals or parts Kona crab (Ranina ranina). The
upon written request or by appointment thereof) worldwide. The study area assessment provides the basis for
in the Permits and Conservation includes waters within or proximal to management of this culturally important
Division, Office of Protected Resources, the U.S. EEZ from North Carolina species. Previously, non-NOAA
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room northward to Maine, and Canadian scientists conducted stock assessments
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone waters in the Gulf of Maine. for Kona crab in 1978 and, in
(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. In compliance with the National collaboration with PIFSC scientists, in
Written comments on this application Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 2010–2011. The draft 2018 benchmark
should be submitted to the Chief, U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial assessment incorporates data from 1948
Permits and Conservation Division, at determination has been made that the through 2016 and uses a production
the address listed above. Comments may activity proposed is categorically model, incorporating improvements to
also be submitted by facsimile to (301) excluded from the requirement to data standardization and model
713–0376, or by email to prepare an environmental assessment or assumptions. Specifically, catch per
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please environmental impact statement. unit effort (CPUE) in the model includes
include the File No. in the subject line Concurrent with the publication of new standardization coefficients split
of the email comment. this notice in the Federal Register, into two time series (1948–2005 and
Those individuals requesting a public NMFS is forwarding copies of the 2006–2016), due to passage of Hawaii
hearing should submit a written request application to the Marine Mammal state law prohibiting the taking of
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Commission and its Committee of female Kona crab in 2006. The
Division at the address listed above. The Scientific Advisors. assessment model accounts for
request should set forth the specific Dated: May 31, 2018. unreported catch by evaluating the use
reasons why a hearing on this Julia Marie Harrison, of published estimates of non-reporting
application would be appropriate. ratios estimated for other fisheries in the
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Office of Protected Resources, National main Hawaiian Islands, and by
Young or Shasta McClenahan, (301) Marine Fisheries Service. incorporating estimates of fishing effort
427–8401. [FR Doc. 2018–12001 Filed 6–4–18; 8:45 am] specific to crustaceans from ancillary
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
surveys. Stock status is evaluated
subject permit is requested under the against MSY-based reference points set
authority of the Marine Mammal in the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the
Protection Act of 1972, as amended DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Hawaii Archipelago. Projections are
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the provided to inform management setting
regulations governing the taking and National Oceanic and Atmospheric of annual catch limits.
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR Administration Section 301(a)(2) of the Magnuson-
part 216). Stevens Fishery Conservation and
The applicant requests a five-year RIN 0648–XG270 Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
permit to take harbor seals (Phoca Act) requires that fishery conservation
Pacific Island Fisheries; Western
vitulina), gray seals (Halichoerus and management measures be based
Pacific Stock Assessment Review;
grypus), harp seals (Pagophilus upon the best scientific information
Public Meeting
groenlandicus), and hooded seals available. Magnuson-Stevens Act
(Cystophora cristata) during stock AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Section 302(g)(1)(E) provides that the
assessment research, including Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) and
estimation of distribution and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), each regional fishery management
abundance, determination of stock Commerce. council may establish a peer review
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

structure, habitat requirements, foraging ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. process for that Council for scientific
ecology, health assessment, and effects information used to advise the Council
of natural and anthropogenic factors. SUMMARY: NMFS and the Western about the conservation and management
Types of take include harassment Pacific Fishery Management Council of a fishery. Consistent with this
during ground, vessel, or aerial surveys, (Council) will convene a Western provision, the Council, PIFSC, and the
and scat collection; and capture with Pacific Stock Assessment Review NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office
tissue sampling and instrument or tag (WPSAR) of a draft 2018 benchmark have established the WPSAR process in

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Document Created: 2018-11-02 11:46:48
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 11:46:48

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; receipt of application.
Dates		Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before July 5, 2018.
Contact		Sara Young or Shasta McClenahan, (301) 427-8401.
FR Citation		83 FR 26009
RIN Number		0648-XG09

83 FR 26009 - Marine Mammals; File No. 21719

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 108 (June 5, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration