[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49465-49466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20084]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XY09


Marine Mammals; File No. 14682

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 has issued a permit to 
Whitlow Au, Ph.D., University of Hawaii, Hawaii Institute of Marine 
Biology, Marine Mammal Research Program, PO Box 1106, Kailua, HI 96734, 
to conduct research on marine mammals.

ADDRESSES:  The permits and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Kristy Beard or Carrie Hubard at 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 12, 2009, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (74 FR 58243) that a request for a permit to 
conduct scientific research on marine mammals had been submitted by the 
above-named applicant. 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).
    A five-year permit was issued to Dr. Au to investigate the 
population dynamics and behavior of cetaceans around Hawaii and the 
Pacific, to determine aspects of the behavior and use of the acoustic 
environment by large whales, and to determine the effects of noise on 
behavior of cetaceans around Hawaii. The permit authorizes researchers 
to conduct behavioral observations, photo-identification, genetic 
sampling, suction-cup tagging, acoustic recording, and acoustic 
playbacks from vessels on: Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon 
densirostris), Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), killer 
whale (Orcinus orca), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), dwarf 
sperm whale (Kogia sima), pygmy sperm whale (K. breviceps), short-
finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), false killer whale 
(Pseudorca crassidens), pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), melon-
headed whale (Peponocephala electra), long-beaked common dolphin 
(Delphinus capensis), short-beaked common dolphin (D. delphis), striped 
dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), spinner dolphin (S. longirostris), 
pantropical spotted dolphin (S. attenuata), bottlenose dolphin 
(Turisiops truncatus), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), Pacific 
white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and rough-toothed 
dolphin (Steno bredanensis).
    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 will 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 July 14, 2010.
    Issuance of the 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.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    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;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018; and
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI

[[Page 49466]]

96814-4700; phone (808)944-2200; fax (808)973-2941.

    Dated: August 9, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-20084 Filed 8-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S