[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8303-8304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3742]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XK26


Marine Mammals; File No. 13430

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

ACTION:  Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that NMFS National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory, (Responsible Party: Dr. John Bengtson, Director), Seattle, 
WA, has been issued a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.

ADDRESSES:  The permit 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) 713-0376; and
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Tammy Adams or Kate Swails, (301) 
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 8, 2008, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (73 FR 52027) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), California 
sea lions (Zalophus californianus), and northern elephant seals 
(Mirounga angustirostris) within coastal waters and on pinniped 
rookeries and haul outs of Washington and Oregon had been submitted by 
the above-named applicant. On September 18, 2009, a notice was 
published in the Federal Register (74 FR 47918) announcing that the 
applicant had revised their request for a permit to include Eastern 
Distinct Population Segment Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and 
Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca). The requested permit 
has 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).
    The permit is valid through January 31, 2015, for harassment of 
marine mammals during aerial, vessel, and ground surveys; capture of 
pinnipeds for collection of tissue samples, attachment of scientific 
instruments and application of marks (flipper tags, brands, etc.); and 
harassment of marine mammals during underwater playback experiments. 
The permit also allows for a limited number of research-related 
mortality of marine mammals.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an environmental assessment (EA) was prepared 
analyzing the effects of the permitted activities on the human 
environment. Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined that 
issuance of the permit would not significantly impact the quality of 
the human environment and that preparation of an environmental impact 
statement was not required. That determination is documented in a 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on February 16, 2010.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.


[[Page 8304]]


    Dated: February 18, 2010.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-3742 Filed 2-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S