83 FR 54570 - Marine Mammals; File No. 22095

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 210 (October 30, 2018)

Page Range		54570-54571
FR Document		2018-23652

Notice is hereby given that SeaWorld, LLC., 9205 Southpark Center Loop, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32819 (Responsible Party: Christopher Dold, DVM), has applied in due form for a scientific research and enhancement permit for one non-releasable beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) from the Cook Inlet distinct population segment (DPS).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54570-54571]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23652]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG371

Marine Mammals; File No. 22095

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 SeaWorld, LLC., 9205 Southpark
Center Loop, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32819 (Responsible Party:
Christopher Dold, DVM), has applied in due form for a scientific
research and enhancement permit for one non-releasable beluga whale
(Delphinapterus leucas) from the Cook Inlet distinct population segment
(DPS).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before November 29, 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. 22095 from the list of available applications.

[[Page 54571]]

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 File No. 22095 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: Amy Sloan, Jennifer Skidmore, or
Courtney Smith, (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.), and the
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
The applicant proposes to conduct research on and provide long-term
care for one male beluga whale calf from the Cook Inlet DPS. The calf
stranded alone as a neonate when he was less than a month old, and was
rescued and rehabilitated by the Alaska marine mammal stranding network
under the authority of the NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding
Response Program's (MMHSRP) scientific research and enhancement permit.
Based on his young age, health conditions, and need for socialization
with other beluga whales, NMFS determined him to be non-releasable and
unable to survive in the wild, and chose SeaWorld of Texas to accept
Tyonek into their beluga population, which was best suited for his
needs. NMFS followed the standard placement process for non-releasable
marine mammals as outlined in the NMFS Placement Process for Non-
releasable Marine Mammals, No. 02-308-02, which is available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/op/pds/documents/02/308/02-308-02.pdf. The calf is
currently held at SeaWorld of Texas under the authority of the MMHSRP
permit (No. 18786-03). SeaWorld is now applying for their own
scientific research and enhancement permit for the long-term care of
this non-releasable animal and to conduct research to benefit the
endangered wild population of Cook Inlet beluga whales.
SeaWorld's proposed research activities for this beluga whale
include investigations of vocalizations (passive recordings) and
hearing development (auditory evoked potential measurements). The
proposed enhancement would include educational presentations on topics
including the endangered status and current threats to the Cook Inlet
DPS; continued daily husbandry care (feeding, training, and monitoring
growth (measurements, weight, ultrasound)); veterinary care (exams and
biological sampling including but not limited to blood, exhalate,
swabs, urine, feces; and treatments as warranted); and behavioral
observations and enrichment. This animal would be placed on public
display incidental to the proposed activities but would not be used in
interactive programs with the public or trained for performance.
Presentations to educate the public may include demonstrations of
trained husbandry and enrichment behaviors as well as natural
behaviors. The permit is requested for a 5-year period, the maximum
duration of a permit.
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.
NMFS has forwarded the application to the Marine Mammal Commission
and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

Dated: October 24, 2018.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-23652 Filed 10-29-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 210 / Tuesday, October 30, 2018 / Notices 54571

These documents are also available MMHSRP permit (No. 18786–03). ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits.
upon written request or by appointment SeaWorld is now applying for their own
in the Permits and Conservation scientific research and enhancement SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
Division, Office of Protected Resources, permit for the long-term care of this individuals and institutions have been
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room non-releasable animal and to conduct issued Letters of Confirmation for
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone research to benefit the endangered wild activities conducted under the General
(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. population of Cook Inlet beluga whales. Authorization for Scientific Research on
Written comments on this application SeaWorld’s proposed research marine mammals. See SUPPLEMENTARY
should be submitted to the Chief, activities for this beluga whale include INFORMATION for a list of names and
Permits and Conservation Division, at investigations of vocalizations (passive address of recipients.
the address listed above. Comments may recordings) and hearing development ADDRESSES: The Letters of Confirmation
also be submitted by facsimile to (301) (auditory evoked potential and related documents are available for
713–0376, or by email to measurements). The proposed review upon written request or by
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please enhancement would include appointment in the following office:
include File No. 22095 in the subject educational presentations on topics Permits and Conservation Division,
line of the email comment. including the endangered status and Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
Those individuals requesting a public current threats to the Cook Inlet DPS; 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705,
hearing should submit a written request continued daily husbandry care Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation (feeding, training, and monitoring 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376.
Division at the address listed above. The growth (measurements, weight, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
request should set forth the specific ultrasound)); veterinary care (exams and Office of Protected Resources, Permits
reasons why a hearing on this biological sampling including but not and Conservation Division, (301) 427–
application would be appropriate. limited to blood, exhalate, swabs, urine, 8401.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: feces; and treatments as warranted); and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Amy Sloan, Jennifer Skidmore, or behavioral observations and requested Letters of Confirmation have
Courtney Smith, (301) 427–8401. enrichment. This animal would be been issued under the authority of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The placed on public display incidental to Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
subject permit is requested under the the proposed activities but would not be as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and
authority of the Marine Mammal used in interactive programs with the the regulations governing the taking and
Protection Act of 1972, as amended public or trained for performance. importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Presentations to educate the public may part 216). The General Authorization
regulations governing the taking and include demonstrations of trained allows for bona fide scientific research
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR husbandry and enrichment behaviors as that may result only in taking by Level
part 216), the Endangered Species Act of well as natural behaviors. The permit is B harassment of marine mammals. The
1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 requested for a 5-year period, the following Letters of Confirmation (LOC)
et seq.), and the regulations governing maximum duration of a permit. were issued in Fiscal Year 2018
the taking, importing, and exporting of In compliance with the National (October 1, 2017—September 30, 2018).
endangered and threatened species (50 Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 File No. 19826–01: Issued to Tara
CFR parts 222–226). U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial Moll, Naval Undersea Warfare Center,
The applicant proposes to conduct determination has been made that the Division Newport, 1176 Howell Street,
research on and provide long-term care activity proposed is categorically Newport, RI, 02841 on November 6,
for one male beluga whale calf from the excluded from the requirement to 2017, to conduct ground and vessel
Cook Inlet DPS. The calf stranded alone prepare an environmental assessment or surveys, photo-identification, and
as a neonate when he was less than a environmental impact statement. behavioral observations of gray
month old, and was rescued and NMFS has forwarded the application (Halichoerus grypus), harbor (Phoca
rehabilitated by the Alaska marine to the Marine Mammal Commission and vitulina), and harp (Pagophilus
mammal stranding network under the its Committee of Scientific Advisors. groenlandicus) seals in lower
authority of the NMFS Marine Mammal Dated: October 24, 2018. Chesapeake Bay, VA and Narragansett
Health and Stranding Response Julia M. Harrison, Bay, RI. The amended LOC expands the
Program’s (MMHSRP) scientific research Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, location of research activities in Virginia
and enhancement permit. Based on his Office of Protected Resources, National to include the eastern Atlantic shore of
young age, health conditions, and need Marine Fisheries Service. Virginia, rather than just coastlines
for socialization with other beluga [FR Doc. 2018–23652 Filed 10–29–18; 8:45 am] within the Chesapeake Bay. The LOC
whales, NMFS determined him to be BILLING CODE 3510–22–P expires on January 31, 2021.
non-releasable and unable to survive in File No. 21363: Issued to David
the wild, and chose SeaWorld of Texas Johnston, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of
to accept Tyonek into their beluga DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE the Practice, Duke University, Marine
population, which was best suited for Science and Conservation, 135 Duke
his needs. NMFS followed the standard National Oceanic and Atmospheric Marine Lab Rd., Beaufort, NC, 28516 on
placement process for non-releasable Administration November 9, 2017, to use unmanned
marine mammals as outlined in the aircraft systems to count and
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

NMFS Placement Process for Non- RIN 0648–XG558 photograph 11 pinniped species. Images
releasable Marine Mammals, No. 02– Marine Mammals; Issuance of Permits will be used for photogrammetry, health
308–02, which is available at: http:// assessments and habitat descriptions.
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/op/pds/ AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Research may occur in three different
documents/02/308/02-308-02.pdf. The Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and areas: (1) Along the U.S. east coast from
calf is currently held at SeaWorld of Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Maine to South Carolina; (2) along the
Texas under the authority of the Commerce. U.S. West Coast from Alaska to

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Document Created: 2018-10-30 00:43:17
Document Modified: 2018-10-30 00:43:17

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 November 29, 2018.
Contact		Amy Sloan, Jennifer Skidmore, or Courtney Smith, (301) 427-8401.
FR Citation		83 FR 54570
RIN Number		0648-XG37

83 FR 54570 - Marine Mammals; File No. 22095

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 210 (October 30, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration