[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 205 (Monday, October 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54959-54960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25715]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XS54


Marine Mammals; File No. 14603

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 the Provincetown Center for 
Coastal Studies (CCS) [Responsible Party: Richard Delaney], 115 
Bradford Street, Provincetown, Massachusetts 02657, has applied in due 
form for a permit to conduct research directed at North Atlantic right 
whales (Eubalaena glacialis).

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before November 25, 2009.

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. 14603 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    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)713-0376; and
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9333.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and 
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)713-0376, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
    Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 14603.

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

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 222-226).

[[Page 54960]]

    CCS requests a five-year scientific research permit to harass right 
whales year-round to monitor demographics, life history traits, habitat 
use, and behavior in the Gulf of Maine; the majority of effort would be 
focused in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts Bay, and the Great South Channel 
during the season of right whale residency (December 15 - May 15). 
Annually, up to 400 right whales of all age classes would be approached 
by small plane for photo-identification and behavioral observation; up 
to 350 right whales of all age classes would be approached by vessel 
for photo-identification, direct observation, and collection of prey; 
and up to 20 attempts would be made to attach suction cup tags to adult 
or juvenile right whales from small vessels, with a maximum of 10 
successful attachments. Up to 40 cetaceans of other species would be 
incidentally harassed annually during aerial and vessel surveys, and 
opportunistic sighting information and photographs would be collected. 
The results of this research will provide a better understanding of 
right whale population status, relationship to habitat conditions, 
distribution and abundance, movement patterns, and interactions with 
human activities. Data will be provided to management agencies, 
including NOAA Fisheries and the Massachusetts Division of Marine 
Fisheries, for near-real-time dynamic management of right whale 
habitat, and long-term refinement of conservation and recovery plans.
     In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a draft environmental assessment (EA) will be 
prepared to examine whether significant environmental impacts could 
result from issuance of the proposed scientific research permit. 
Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register, 
NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine Mammal 
Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: October 21, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-25715 Filed 10-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S