[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 107 (Friday, June 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27020-27021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13176]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XP63


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14210 and 782-1719

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

ACTION:  Notice; issuance of permit and permit amendment.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that LGL Alaska Research Associates 
(Dr. Tamara McGuire, Principal Investigator), 1101 E. 76th Ave. Suite 
B, Anchorage, Alaska 99518 (File No. 14210), and the National Marine 
Mammal Laboratory (NMML), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (Dr. Phillip 
J. Clapham, Principal Investigator), 7600 Sand Point Way, NE., Seattle, 
Washington 98115 6349 (File No. 782 1719) have been issued a permit and 
a permit amendment, respectively, to conduct research on the Cook Inlet 
stock of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas).

ADDRESSES:  The permits and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s):
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Kristy Beard or Amy Hapeman, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 10, 2009, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (74 FR 6578) that a request for a scientific 
research permit and permit amendment to take Cook Inlet beluga whales 
had been submitted by the above-named organizations. The requested 
permit and permit amendment have been issued under the authority of the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (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).
    Permit No. 14210, issued to LGL Alaska Research Associates, 
authorizes harassment of up to 54 beluga whales three times annually in 
Cook Inlet, Alaska for vessel-based photo-identification annually 
between May and October. The permit expires on May 30, 2014.
    Permit No. 782-1719-08 authorizes NMML to take species of cetaceans 
under NMFS jurisdiction during stock assessment activities throughout 
U.S. territorial waters and the high seas of the North Pacific Ocean, 
Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. The permit authorizes Level B 
harassment during close approach for aerial surveys, vessel-based 
surveys, observations, and photo-identification and Level A harassment 
during biopsy sampling and attachment of scientific instruments. This 
permit amendment authorizes harassment of up to 585 Cook Inlet belugas 
20 times annually during aerial surveys, and will be effective until 
the permit expires on June 30, 2009.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an environmental assessment was prepared 
analyzing the effects of the permitted activities. After a Finding of 
No Significant Impact, the determination was made that it was not 
necessary to prepare an environmental impact statement.
    Issuance of this permit and permit amendment, as required by the 
ESA, was based on a finding that such permits: (1) were applied for in 
good faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered 
species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set 
forth in section 2 of the ESA.


[[Page 27021]]


    Dated: June 1, 2009.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-13176 Filed 6-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S