[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 31, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53271-53272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-21715]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XY39


Marine Mammals; File No. 15271

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

ACTION:  Notice; receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that James T. Harvey, Moss Landing 
Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, California 
95039, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on blue 
(Balaenoptera musculus), fin (B. physalus), humpback

[[Page 53272]]

(Megaptera novaeangliae), and gray (Eschrichtius robustus) whales.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before September 30, 2010.

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. 15271 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;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018; 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.
    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:  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).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit to conduct research on 
large whale species off California, Oregon, and Washington; the primary 
research area would be off the Southern California Bight, San Luis 
Obispo, Monterey Bay, and San Francisco. The purposes of the research 
are to: (1) relate distribution and abundance of marine mammals with 
environmental factors; (2) determine diet and foraging behaviors as 
marine mammals exploit prey resources; (3) determine types of acoustic 
behavior of marine mammals (primarily cetaceans) and how acoustic 
signals are affected by anthropogenic factors; and (4) determine the 
movements of individuals or pods during migrations or within their home 
range. Each year, 50 blue whales would be approached for photo-
identification (photo-ID) and biopsy, of which 30 would be suction-cup 
tagged, 10 would be dart-tagged, and 10 would be tagged with small 
implantable tags; 30 fin whales would be approached for photo-ID and 
biopsy, of which 10 would be suction-cup tagged, 5 would be dart-
tagged, and 5 would be tagged with small implantable tags; 200 humpback 
whales would be approached for photo-ID and biopsy, of which 30 would 
be suction-cup tagged, 10 would be dart-tagged, and 10 would be tagged 
with small implantable tags; 100 gray whales would be approached for 
photo-ID and biopsy, of which 40 would be suction-cup tagged, 10 would 
be dart-tagged, and 10 would be tagged with small implantable tags. 
Tagged individuals would be observed and photographed (e.g., daily for 
the first week and every week or so for the next two months). Up to 200 
California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), 20 harbor seals (Phoca 
vitulina richardii), 50 Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus 
obliquidens), 20 Northern right whale dolphins (Lissodelphis borealis), 
10 harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and 20 short-beaked common 
dolphins (Delphinus delphis) would be harassed incidental to research 
activities.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a draft environmental assessment (EA) has 
been prepared to examine whether significant environmental impacts 
could result from issuance of the proposed scientific research permit. 
The draft EA is available for review and comment simultaneous with the 
scientific research permit application.
    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: August 25, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-21715 Filed 8-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S