[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 20565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8971]



[[Page 20565]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XV92


Marine Mammals; File No. 14610

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 Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game (ADFG), Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, AK (Principal 
Investigator: Robert Small, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a 
permit to conduct research on marine mammals.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before May 20, 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. 14610 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available 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
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the address 
listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301)713-
0376, or by email to [email protected]. Please include the File 
No. in the subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
Division at the address listed above. The request should set forth the 
specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be 
appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Tammy Adams or Carrie Hubard, (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).
    The ADFG requests a five-year permit to conduct studies on 
cetaceans in waters of the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas in Alaska 
to determine population abundance, stock structure, feeding areas and 
other important habitats, migration routes, behavior relative to human 
disturbance, and to genetically identify individuals to determine 
survival and calving intervals. The target species are beluga whale 
(Delphinapterus leucas), endangered bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), 
gray whale (Eschrictius robustus), and endangered humpback whale 
(Megaptera novaeangliae). Research activities for beluga whales include 
aerial survey (up to 1,000 animals per each of four stocks annually), 
capture for tagging and sample collection (up to 35 animals per each of 
four stocks annually), and remote biopsy (up to 350 animals per each of 
four stocks annually). Research activities for bowhead whales include 
tagging (105 animals annually) and remote biopsy (up to 50 animals 
annually). Research activities for gray whales include tagging (up to 
50 animals annually) and biopsy (up to 50 animals annually). Research 
activities for humpback whales include tagging (up to 20 animals 
annually) and remote biopsy (up to 20 animals annually). Up to 10 each 
of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus), 
ringed seals (P. hispida), and spotted seals (P. largha) would be 
harassed annually incidental to the cetacean research. Tissue samples 
collected from whales would be imported and exported to collaborators 
for genetic, health, and dietary studies.
    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.

    Dated: April 14, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-8971 Filed 4-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S