[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45514-45515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19259]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA599


Marine Mammals; File No. 16094

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, Juneau, AK, 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 August 29, 2011.

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. 16094 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) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-724.
    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 e-mail to [email protected]. Please include the 
File No. in the subject line of the e-mail 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 Joselyd Garcia-Reyes, 
(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.), and the regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit to study harbor seals 
(Phoca vitulina) throughout their range in Alaska, including Southeast 
Alaska, Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea. The overall objective is to 
provide a greater understanding of the proximate and ultimate factors 
that regulate their abundance, which is required to develop effective 
management and conservation strategies. Research activities and the 
maximum number of animals taken per year (n) per activity include: 
aerial surveys for population census and radio tracking (n = 180,000); 
incidental disturbance during capture activities (n = 7,000); ground 
surveys for photo-identification, counts and behavioral observations (n 
= 10,000); vessel approaches of animals equipped with telemetry 
equipment (n = 50); vessel surveys for radio tracking and incidental 
disturbance associated with approaching animals equipped with telemetry 
equipment (n = 7,000); and capture by entanglement in a net in the 
water or by hoop net or dip net on land

[[Page 45515]]

(n = 350). Captured animals would be restrained (chemical or physical); 
weighed and measured; have biological samples collected (blood, milk 
(lactating females), blubber, muscle, skin, muscle, hair, mucus 
membrane swabs, stomach lavage, tooth and vibrissae); be administered 
deuterated water; have measurement of blubber via ultrasound; be marked 
with flipper identification tags; and have internal (PIT tags) or 
external scientific instruments attached. Tissue samples would be 
collected from subsistence harvested animals and other mortalities and 
some samples would be exported to Canada for analysis. The applicant 
requests authorization for incidental research-related mortalities (4 
per year, not to exceed 10 over five years) and permission to humanely 
euthanize animals seriously injured during research (2 per year, not to 
exceed 5 over five years). The applicant also requests incidental 
harassment (5 per year) and accidental mortality (3 per year) of harbor 
porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) during seal capture activities.
    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: July 22, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-19259 Filed 7-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P