[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29981-29982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12267]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB005


Marine Mammals; File No. 17086

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 29982]]

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, Ph.D., Cascadia Research, 218\1/2\ W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 
98501, to conduct research on marine mammals in the Atlantic Ocean.

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;
    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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 17, 2012, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (77 FR 9627) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on 27 species of cetaceans in U.S. and international 
waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Virginia to Southern Florida 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).
    Authorized taking includes harassment of 27 species of cetaceans 
through vessel approach for sighting surveys, photographic 
identification, behavioral research, opportunistic sampling (sloughed 
skin, fecal material, and prey remains), and dart and/or suction-cup 
tagging. Import and export of marine mammal prey specimens, sloughed 
skin, fecal, and breath samples obtained is authorized. The permit is 
valid until May 11, 2017.
    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: May 15, 2012.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12267 Filed 5-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P