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 whales in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas (U.S. and international waters) adjacent to Alaska. Target species include: beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas), endangered bowhead ( Balaena mysticetus), endangered fin ( Balaenoptera physalus), endangered gray ( Eschrichtius robustus), threatened and endangered humpback ( Megaptera novaeangliae), killer ( Orcinus orca), and minke ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whales. Research topics would include movements, habitat use, individual and stock identification, population abundance, health, hormone analysis, and behavior relative to environmental conditions and human-caused disturbances. Researchers would conduct vessel and drone surveys of whales for remote tagging (dart/barb, deep implant, or suction-cup); biopsy sampling; sloughed skin collection; photography; photo-identification; and observations. Biological samples collected on the high seas or in foreign waters would be imported into the United States. The applicant also requests to conduct aerial surveys and net captures for measurements, photography, biological sampling, and tagging (invasive and/or suction-cup) of four beluga whale stocks. Threatened bearded ( Erignathus barbatus, Beringia distinct population segment), harbor ( Phoca vitulina), threatened ringed ( Pusa hispida, Arctic stock), and spotted ( Phoca largha) seals and beluga whales may be unintentionally harassed, and some seal species may be unintentionally captured during research activities. Up to six unintentional beluga mortalities could occur during captures over the duration of the permit. See the application for numbers of animals requested by species, life stages, and procedures. The applicant also requests to collect, import, export, and/or receive parts of the above cetacean species and unidentified cetaceans for scientific research. The permit is requested for 10 years.

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.

90 FR 44648