[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26513-26514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10847]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC014


Marine Mammals; File No. 15777

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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[[Page 26514]]

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, Woods Hole, MA (Responsible Party: Michael Simpkins), has 
applied in due form for a permit to take marine mammals during 
scientific research in coastal waters and adjacent waters off the 
northeast U.S.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before June 4, 2012.

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. 15777 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;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978) 281-9328; fax (978) 281-9394; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation 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 and Conservation 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 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 take harbor seals 
(Phoca vitulina concolor), gray seals (Halichoerus grypus), harp seals 
(Pagophilus groenlandicus), and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) 
during conduct of research to estimate distribution and abundance, 
determine stock structure and habitat requirements, study foraging 
ecology, assess health and determine the effects of natural and 
anthropogenic factors on these seal species. Types of take include 
harassment during shipboard, skiff, and aircraft transect and photo-
identification surveys, and scat collection; and capture with tissue 
sampling and instrument or tag attachment. The applicant proposes to 
capture up to 175 harbor seals and 225 gray seals annually for 
measurement of body condition, collection of tissue samples (e.g., 
blood, blubber biopsy, skin, hair, swab samples, vibrissae), and 
attachment of telemetry devices. Up to 200 harp seals, 50 hooded seals, 
and an additional 18,000 harbor seals and 20,000 gray seals could be 
harassed annually incidental to surveys, scat collections and capture 
operations. The applicant requests unintentional mortality of up to 3 
animals of each species annually. Permission is also sought to import 
and export pinniped specimen material (including soft and hard tissue, 
blood, extracted DNA, and whole dead animals or parts thereof) to/from 
any country. The study area includes waters within or proximal to the 
U.S. EEZ from North Carolina northward to Maine, and Canadian waters in 
the Gulf of Maine.
    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.

    Dated: May 1, 2012.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-10847 Filed 5-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P