[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 227 (Friday, November 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 72681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30390]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XU87
[File No. 15126]


Marine Mammals

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory, (Responsible Party: Dr. John Bengtson, Director), Seattle, 
WA, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 
15126-01 for studies of marine mammals in Alaska.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before December 27, 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 home 
page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 15126 
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
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249.

    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 email to [email protected]. Please include the File 
No. in the subject line of the email 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 Amy Sloan, (301) 427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 15126-01 
is requested 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. 15126, issued on May 7, 2010 (75 FR 27300), authorizes 
the permit holder to take ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata), spotted seals 
(P. largha), ringed seals (P. hispida), harbor seals (P. vitulina), and 
bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) in the North Pacific Ocean, Bering 
Sea, Arctic Ocean and coastal regions of Alaska to investigate their 
foraging ecology, habitat requirements, vital rates, and effects of 
natural and anthropogenic factors. A minor amendment (Permit No. 15126-
01) was issued on April 5, 2011, which authorized harassment of ringed 
seals to assess conditions and characteristics of their lairs and 
breathing holes. Methods for the project include excavating a portion 
of the lairs or breathing holes to take measurements and photographs of 
the structure and placing sensors within the lair before reconstructing 
and closing the structure. The minor amendment did not change the 
numbers of animals harassed; it re-allocated takes already permitted 
for harassment incidental to seal capture activities. The permit is 
valid through March 30, 2015.
    The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to include 
authorization for harassment of an additional 3,554 ribbon seals, 8,699 
spotted seals, 3,872 bearded seals and 50,653 ringed seals annually 
during low-level (less than 1,000 feet and greater than 400 feet) 
aerial surveys conducted from either rotary or fixed wing manned or 
unmanned aircraft. The amendment would not affect the expiration date 
of the permit.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: November 18, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-30390 Filed 11-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P