[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 103 (Friday, May 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 29991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12824]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XO45


Marine Mammals; receipt of application for permit amendment

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

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that Dr. Peter Tyack, Woods Hole 
Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA has applied for an amendment 
to Permit No. 14241 to conduct research on marine mammals.

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 home 
page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 14241 
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;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9333; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, 
Florida 33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14241 is 
requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations 
governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216.
    Permit No. 14241, issued on July 15, 2009 (74 FR 3668), authorizes 
the permit holder to conduct research on cetacean behavior, sound 
production, and responses to sound. The research methods include 
tagging marine mammals with an advanced digital sound recording tag 
that records the acoustic stimuli an animal hears and measures 
vocalization, behavior, and physiological parameters. Research also 
involves conducting sound playbacks in a carefully controlled manner 
and measuring animals' responses. The principal study species are 
beaked whales, especially Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), 
and large delphinids such as long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala 
melas), although other small cetacean species may also be studied. The 
locations for the field work are the Mediterranean Sea, waters off of 
the mid-Atlantic United States, and Cape Cod Bay. The permit is valid 
through July 31, 2014.
    The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to: (1) 
include authorization for collection of a skin and blubber biopsy 
sample from some animals that are already authorized to be tagged; (2) 
add new species for existing projects involving tagging, playbacks, and 
behavioral observations; and (3) modify and clarify tagging and 
playback protocols and mitigation for when dependent calves are 
present. The new species for the Mediterranean Sea-based project are 
Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), Cuvier's beaked 
whale, short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), long-
finned pilot whale, Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), and false killer 
whale (Pseudorca crassidens). The new species for the project based off 
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina are True's beaked whale (M. mirus), 
Gervais' beaked whale (M. europaeus), Blainville's beaked whale, 
bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Risso's dolphin, short-beaked 
common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), and Cuvier's beaked whale. The 
amendment would be valid through the current expiration date of the 
permit.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: May 24, 2010.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-12824 Filed 5-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S