[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 72390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30270]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA835


Marine Mammals; File No. 16314

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 
Jennifer Lewis, Ph.D., Tropical Dolphin Research Foundation, Aventura, 
FL to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joselyd Garcia-Reyes or Carrie Hubard, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 10, 2011, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (76 FR 34053) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on bottlenose dolphins 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.) and the regulations governing the taking and 
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 16314 authorizes Dr. Lewis to conduct photo-
identification surveys and biopsy sampling in Whitewater Bay, Shark 
River, Ponce de Leon Bay and Florida Bay, which are found in Everglades 
National Park. Up to 3,020 bottlenose dolphins could be taken by level 
B harassment each year during photo-identification surveys. 
Additionally, up to 38 bottlenose dolphins from each location could be 
taken by level A harassment annually, to acquire 30 successful biopsy 
samples from each location over the life of the permit. Research would 
stop when the desired number of samples has been obtained. The permit 
is valid through November 28, 2016.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: November 18, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-30270 Filed 11-22-11; 8:45 am]
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