[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 126 (Thursday, June 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 38361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16519]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA524


Marine Mammals; File No. 15488

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 a permit has been issued to the 
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division 
[Responsible Party: Dan Forster], to conduct research on North Atlantic 
right whales (Eubalaena glacialis).

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
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) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376; and Southeast Region, 
NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701; phone 
(727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristy Beard or Carrie Hubard, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 3, 2010, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (75 FR 75458) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on North Atlantic right whales had been submitted by 
the 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).
    The permit authorizes harassment of North Atlantic right whales off 
the coast of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. Annual activities 
include aerial surveys and close approach by vessel to collect right 
whale photo-identification and behavioral data from up to 350 whales. 
An additional 50 adult or juvenile whales and 20 whales older than one 
month would be approached by vessel to collect photo-identification and 
behavioral data and skin/blubber biopsy samples. The purpose of the 
research is to monitor North Atlantic right whale population status, 
demographics, habitat and anthropogenic impacts. Up to 350 bottlenose 
(Tursiops truncatus) and 200 Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella 
frontalis) would be harassed incidental to research. The permit is 
valid for five years.
    An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared analyzing the effects 
of the permitted activities on the human environment in compliance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
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 June 23, 2011.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit 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.

     Dated: June 24, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-16519 Filed 6-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P