83 FR 54571 - Marine Mammals; Issuance of Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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

Page Range		54571-54572
FR Document		2018-23653

Notice is hereby given that individuals and institutions have been issued Letters of Confirmation for activities conducted under the General Authorization for Scientific Research on marine mammals. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for a list of names and address of recipients.

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

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54571-54572]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23653]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG558


Marine Mammals; Issuance of Permits

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that individuals and institutions have 
been issued Letters of Confirmation for activities conducted under the 
General Authorization for Scientific Research on marine mammals. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for a list of names and address of 
recipients.

ADDRESSES: The Letters of Confirmation and related documents are 
available for review upon written request or by appointment in the 
following office:
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Protected Resources, Permits 
and Conservation Division, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested Letters of Confirmation have 
been issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations 
governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). 
The General Authorization allows for bona fide scientific research that 
may result only in taking by Level B harassment of marine mammals. The 
following Letters of Confirmation (LOC) were issued in Fiscal Year 2018 
(October 1, 2017--September 30, 2018).
    File No. 19826-01: Issued to Tara Moll, Naval Undersea Warfare 
Center, Division Newport, 1176 Howell Street, Newport, RI, 02841 on 
November 6, 2017, to conduct ground and vessel surveys, photo-
identification, and behavioral observations of gray (Halichoerus 
grypus), harbor (Phoca vitulina), and harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus) 
seals in lower Chesapeake Bay, VA and Narragansett Bay, RI. The amended 
LOC expands the location of research activities in Virginia to include 
the eastern Atlantic shore of Virginia, rather than just coastlines 
within the Chesapeake Bay. The LOC expires on January 31, 2021.
    File No. 21363: Issued to David Johnston, Ph.D., Assistant 
Professor of the Practice, Duke University, Marine Science and 
Conservation, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd., Beaufort, NC, 28516 on November 
9, 2017, to use unmanned aircraft systems to count and photograph 11 
pinniped species. Images will be used for photogrammetry, health 
assessments and habitat descriptions. Research may occur in three 
different areas: (1) Along the U.S. east coast from Maine to South 
Carolina; (2) along the U.S. West Coast from Alaska to

[[Page 54572]]

California; and (3) along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. The 
objectives are to determine the density and distribution of non-listed 
pinnipeds using risk adverse and low impact technology. The LOC expires 
on November 15, 2022.
    File No. 19826-02: Issued to Deanna Rees, Naval Undersea Warfare 
Center, Division Newport, 1176 Howell Street, Newport, RI 02841 on 
November 28, 2017, to conduct ground and vessel surveys, photo-
identification, and behavioral observations of gray, harbor, and harp 
seals in Virginia and Narragansett Bay, RI. The amended LOC changes the 
Principal Investigator. The objectives do not change from those 
authorized under LOC No. 19826-01. The LOC expires on January 31, 2021.
    File No. 19613: Issued to Eric Zolman, NOAA National Ocean Service, 
Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Ft. Johnson, Charleston, SC, 29412-9110 
on December 21, 2017, to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins 
(Tursiops truncatus) within coastal waters of the southeastern United 
States (including the western North Atlantic and northern Gulf of 
Mexico). Dolphins may be closely approached during vessel surveys for 
the purposes of photo-identification and behavioral observations to 
address the following objectives: (1) To estimate abundance of specific 
inshore bottlenose dolphin stocks; (2) to better define stock 
boundaries in targeted regions; and (3) to assess the status and health 
of targeted dolphin populations. The LOC expires on January 1, 2023.
    File No. 18101-03: Issued to Jens Currie, Pacific Whale Foundation, 
300 Ma'alaea Rd., Suite 211, Wailuku, HI 96793 on March 23, 2018. The 
amended Letter of Confirmation changes the Principal Investigator and 
applicant, and extends the LOC by one year for vessel-based research 
activities on cetaceans within the Maui-4 islands area. The objectives 
do not change from those authorized under LOC No. 18101-02. The LOC 
expires on June 21, 2019.
    File No. 21932: Issued to Jessica Taylor, Outer Banks Center for 
Dolphin Research, 310 West Eden St., Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 on 
April 4, 2018, to conduct vessel surveys of bottlenose dolphins in the 
waters of northern North Carolina. Animals may be approached for photo-
identification, behavioral observations, and focal follows. The 
objective of the research is to continue to monitor the presence, 
identity, ecology, and behavior of bottlenose dolphins in the area. The 
LOC expires on April 30, 2023.
    File No. 21889: Issued to Lesley Thorne, Ph.D., School of Marine 
and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 
11794 on April 23, 2018, to conduct vessel and unmanned aircraft system 
(UAS) surveys of 18 cetacean species. Animals may be approached for 
photo-identification, photogrammetry, behavioral observations, and 
abundance estimates. Research may occur in the New York Bight up to 120 
nm offshore. The objective of the research is to provide detailed 
species-level information on the abundance, distribution, movements and 
body condition of cetaceans within the study area to the New York State 
Department of Environmental Conservation as part of an offshore 
monitoring program. The LOC expires on July 30, 2023.
    File No. 21556: Issued to Stephen McCulloch, Dolphins Plus, 31 
Corrine Place, Key Largo, FL 33037 on May 14, 2018 to conduct vessel 
surveys targeting bottlenose dolphins to include close approach for 
counts, photo-identification, video recording, and behavioral 
observations in the Upper Florida Keys, between North Key Largo to 
Islamorada, FL. The objectives of the research are to provide a 
contemporary account of common bottlenose dolphins utilizing the Upper 
Florida Keys. The LOC expires on May 15, 2023.
    File No. 22198: Issued to Samuel Wasser, Ph.D., Center for 
Conservation Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 on 
May 22, 2018, to conduct boat-based vessel surveys targeting killer 
whales (Orcinus orca, West Coast Transient stock) within the inland 
waters of Washington State. Whales may be approached during focal 
follows for photo-identification, behavioral observations, and fecal 
sample collection. The objective of the research is to, through 
analysis of feces, address the physiologic measures of nutritional 
stress with variation in prey abundance, toxicant levels and boat 
traffic to endpoint measures such as successful birth outcomes and 
annual mortality. The LOC expires on July 15, 2019.
    File No. 20519-01: Issued to Peggy Stap, Marine Life Studies, P.O. 
Box 884, Monterey, CA 93942-0884 on June 27, 2018. The amended LOC 
allows for the use of small UAS to determine the number of marine 
mammals in a group and for photogrammetry of Transient and Offshore 
killer whales. The objectives do not change from those authorized under 
LOC 20519. The LOC expires on December 31, 2021.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activities are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare 
an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: October 24, 2018.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-23653 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 00:43:35
Document Modified: 2018-10-30 00:43:35

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; issuance of permits.
Contact		Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division, (301) 427-8401.
FR Citation		83 FR 54571
RIN Number		0648-XG55

83 FR 54571 - Marine Mammals; Issuance of Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration