[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 152 (Monday, August 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48146-48147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20075]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA160


Marine Mammals; File No. 15330

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 Robin 
Baird, PhD, Cascadia Research, 218\1/2\ W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 
98501 to take marine mammals in the Pacific Ocean for the purposes of 
scientific research.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 25, 2011, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (76 FR 10560) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on forty species of cetaceans and unidentified 
mesoplodon and baleen species in all U.S. and international waters in 
the Pacific Ocean, including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, 
Hawaii, and other U.S. territories 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.), the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and 
threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur Seal Act of 
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Authorized research will include harassment of 40 cetacean species 
through vessel approach for sighting surveys, photographic 
identification, behavioral research, opportunistic sampling (breath, 
sloughed skin, fecal material, and prey remains), and aerial over-
flights for the purpose of locating animals and conducting aerial 
validation studies. All cetacean species (except harbor porpoise 
(Phocoena phocoena), right whales (Eubalaena japonica), and Cook Inlet 
beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas)) and unidentified mesoplodon and 
baleen species will be targeted for dart and/or suction-cup tagging. 
Import and export of marine mammal prey specimens, sloughed skin, fecal 
and breath samples obtained is authorized. Seven species of pinnipeds 
may be incidentally harassed during research activities. The permit is 
valid until August 1, 2016.
    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

[[Page 48147]]

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 26, 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.
    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) 427-2521;
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE., BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249;
    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 96814-4700; phone (808) 973-2935; fax (808) 973-2941.

     Dated: August 1, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-20075 Filed 8-5-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P