83 FR 31737 - Marine Mammals; File No. 21585

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 131 (July 9, 2018)

Page Range		31737-31737
FR Document		2018-14676

Notice is hereby given that Oregon State University, Marine Mammal Institute, 2030 Southeast Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365 (Responsible Party: Bruce Mate, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on 67 species of marine mammals.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 131 (Monday, July 9, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 131 (Monday, July 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 31737]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14676]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG313


Marine Mammals; File No. 21585

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Oregon State University, Marine 
Mammal Institute, 2030 Southeast Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 
97365 (Responsible Party: Bruce Mate, Ph.D.), has applied in due form 
for a permit to conduct research on 67 species of marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before August 8, 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. 21585 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 [email protected]. Please include File No. 21585 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: Shasta McClenahan or Amy Hapeman, 
(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 Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur 
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The applicant requests a five-year research permit to: (1) 
Characterize the spatial and temporal distribution of cetaceans 
throughout their range, (2) identify migration routes, home ranges, 
habitats, and core areas of use, (3) characterize foraging behavior, 
(4) characterize ecological relationships to help explain movement 
patterns, and (5) opportunistically study pinnipeds encountered during 
cetacean studies to contribute knowledge of the species and document 
health concerns including human interactions. Research may occur in 
U.S. and international waters world-wide. Up to 67 species of marine 
mammals may be targeted including the following endangered or 
threatened species and stocks of cetaceans: Blue (Balaenoptera 
musculus), bowhead (Balaena mysticetes), Cook Inlet beluga 
(Delphinapterus leucas), fin (B. physalus), gray (Eschrichtius 
robustus), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), Main Hawaiian Islands 
insular false killer (Pseudorca crassidens), North Pacific right 
(Eubalaena japonica), sei (B. borealis), Southern Resident killer 
(Orcinus orca), Southern right (E. australis), and sperm (Physeter 
macrocephalus) whales. Targeted cetaceans may be taken during vessel 
and manned aerial surveys for observation, photography, passive 
acoustic recording, echosounders for prey mapping, biological sampling 
(sloughed skin or skin and blubber biopsy), and fully-implantable 
tagging. See the application for complete numbers of animals requested 
by species and procedure.
    The following endangered or threatened species of pinnipeds may be 
harassed and opportunistically observed and photographed during 
surveys: Western Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and bearded 
(Erignathus barbatus), Guadalupe fur (Arctocephalus townsendi), 
Hawaiian monk (Neomonachus schauinslandi), ringed (Phoca hispida) and 
spotted (P. largha) seals.
    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: July 3, 2018.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-14676 Filed 7-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 131 / Monday, July 9, 2018 / Notices 31737

NMFS GARFO is requesting authority These documents are also available (B. borealis), Southern Resident killer
to collect, receive, export, transport, and upon written request or by appointment (Orcinus orca), Southern right (E.
archive 100 dead Atlantic and 50 dead in the Permits and Conservation australis), and sperm (Physeter
shortnose sturgeon, or parts thereof, Division, Office of Protected Resources, macrocephalus) whales. Targeted
annually. The applicant requests NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room cetaceans may be taken during vessel
authorization to receive and export 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone and manned aerial surveys for
3,000 Atlantic and 1,500 shortnose (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. observation, photography, passive
sturgeon parts annually for the NMFS Written comments on this application acoustic recording, echosounders for
Sturgeon Tissue Repository. In addition, should be submitted to the Chief, prey mapping, biological sampling
the applicant also requests the one-time Permits and Conservation Division, at (sloughed skin or skin and blubber
transfer of 22,000 Atlantic and 8,100 the address listed above. Comments may biopsy), and fully-implantable tagging.
shortnose sturgeon parts currently also be submitted by facsimile to (301) See the application for complete
archived at the NMFS Sturgeon Tissue 713–0376, or by email to numbers of animals requested by
Repository under Permit No. 17557. NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please species and procedure.
Sturgeon samples would be obtained include File No. 21585 in the subject The following endangered or
from individuals authorized to collect line of the email comment. threatened species of pinnipeds may be
them in the course of scientific research, Those individuals requesting a public harassed and opportunistically observed
salvage activities, or taken during other hearing should submit a written request and photographed during surveys:
authorized activities. Sturgeon parts and to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Western Steller sea lions (Eumetopias
samples would be used to support law Division at the address listed above. The jubatus), and bearded (Erignathus
enforcement actions, research studies request should set forth the specific barbatus), Guadalupe fur
(primarily genetics), and incidental reasons why a hearing on this (Arctocephalus townsendi), Hawaiian
education. The permit would be valid application would be appropriate. monk (Neomonachus schauinslandi),
for up to ten years from the date of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ringed (Phoca hispida) and spotted (P.
issuance. Shasta McClenahan or Amy Hapeman, largha) seals.
(301) 427–8401. In compliance with the National
Dated: July 3, 2018.
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
Julia Marie Harrison, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, subject permit is requested under the
determination has been made that the
Office of Protected Resources, National authority of the Marine Mammal
activity proposed is categorically
Marine Fisheries Service. Protection Act of 1972, as amended
excluded from the requirement to
[FR Doc. 2018–14677 Filed 7–6–18; 8:45 am] (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the
prepare an environmental assessment or
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P regulations governing the taking and
environmental impact statement.
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
Concurrent with the publication of
part 216), the Endangered Species Act of
this notice in the Federal Register,
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531
NMFS is forwarding copies of the
et seq.), the regulations governing the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric application to the Marine Mammal
taking, importing, and exporting of
Administration Commission and its Committee of
endangered and threatened species (50
Scientific Advisors.
RIN 0648–XG313 CFR parts 222–226), and the Fur Seal
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 Dated: July 3, 2018.
Marine Mammals; File No. 21585 et seq.). Julia Marie Harrison,
The applicant requests a five-year Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries research permit to: (1) Characterize the Office of Protected Resources, National
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and spatial and temporal distribution of Marine Fisheries Service.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), cetaceans throughout their range, (2) [FR Doc. 2018–14676 Filed 7–6–18; 8:45 am]
Commerce. identify migration routes, home ranges, BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. habitats, and core areas of use, (3)
characterize foraging behavior, (4)
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that characterize ecological relationships to DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Oregon State University, Marine help explain movement patterns, and (5)
Mammal Institute, 2030 Southeast National Oceanic and Atmospheric
opportunistically study pinnipeds
Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR Administration
encountered during cetacean studies to
97365 (Responsible Party: Bruce Mate, contribute knowledge of the species and RIN 0648–XG335
Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a document health concerns including
permit to conduct research on 67 human interactions. Research may occur Pacific Fishery Management Council;
species of marine mammals. in U.S. and international waters world- Public Meeting
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email wide. Up to 67 species of marine AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
comments must be received on or before mammals may be targeted including the Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
August 8, 2018. following endangered or threatened Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
ADDRESSES: The application and related species and stocks of cetaceans: Blue Commerce.
documents are available for review by (Balaenoptera musculus), bowhead
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

ACTION: Notice of public meeting
selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public (Balaena mysticetes), Cook Inlet beluga (webinar).
Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on (Delphinapterus leucas), fin (B.
the Applications and Permits for physalus), gray (Eschrichtius robustus), SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery
Protected Species (APPS) home page, humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), Management Council’s (Pacific Council)
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then Main Hawaiian Islands insular false is sponsoring a meeting via webinar to
selecting File No. 21585 from the list of killer (Pseudorca crassidens), North review a new method proposed to
available applications. Pacific right (Eubalaena japonica), sei improve catch estimation methods in

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Document Created: 2018-07-07 00:42:53
Document Modified: 2018-07-07 00:42:53

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 August 8, 2018.
Contact		Shasta McClenahan or Amy Hapeman, (301) 427-8401.
FR Citation		83 FR 31737
RIN Number		0648-XG31

83 FR 31737 - Marine Mammals; File No. 21585

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 131 (July 9, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration