[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 205 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 65697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27472]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA772


Marine Mammals; File No. 16685

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 Thomas A. Jefferson, PhD, Clymene 
Enterprises, 5495 Camino Playa Malaga, San Diego, CA 92124, has applied 
in due form for a permit to conduct research on nine cetacean species 
off the California coast.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before November 23, 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. 16685 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    Permits and Conservation 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
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018.
    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: Laura Morse or Carrie Hubard, (301) 
427-8401.

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 proposed permit would authorize research on the population 
biology and the impacts of Navy training operations on California 
stocks of nine cetacean species including bottlenose (Tursiops 
truncatus), Risso's (Grampus griseus), short-beaked common (Delphinus 
delphis), long-beaked common (D. capensis), Pacific white-sided 
(Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and northern right whale dolphins 
(Lissodelphis borealis); killer whale (Orcinus orca, excluding Southern 
resident stock); Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) and harbor 
porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). The study would also examine impacts of 
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in coastal bottlenose dolphins 
along the California coast. Research would occur primarily in the 
waters of the Southern California Bight (San Diego area), Monterey Bay, 
and San Francisco Bay areas. For each stock, up to 2,400 individuals 
may be approached annually for photo-identification and behavioral 
studies and up to 60 individuals may be biopsy sampled over the life of 
the permit. The permit would be valid for a period of five years.
    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: October 19, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27472 Filed 10-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P