[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31585-31586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12962]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB154


Marine Mammals; File No. 16388

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 Mark Baumgartner, Ph.D., Woods 
Hole Oceanographic Institution, MS33 Biology Department, Woods 
Hole, MA 02543, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), fin whales 
(Balaenoptera physalus), blue whales (B. musculus), sei whales (B. 
borealis), bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), North Atlantic right 
whales (Eubalaena glacialis), North Pacific right whales (E. japonica), 
and Eastern North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before June 28, 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. 16388 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    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: Joselyd Garcia-Reyes 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.), the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit to study the diving 
behavior and foraging ecology of baleen whales. The purposes of the 
research are to: (1) Characterize diving and foraging behavior in the 
context of the oceanographic and acoustic environment to support 
improved management of baleen whales, (2) elucidate day-night cycles of 
foraging behavior, (3) study the environmental factors that influence 
diving behavior of all demographic groups, and (4) identify preferred 
prey species, but also the oceanographic conditions that help to 
concentrate prey to develop a predictive model of baleen whale 
distribution. Research would occur in: The northwest Atlantic from 
Maine to Florida; Canadian waters of the Gulf of Maine, Labrador Sea, 
Davis Strait, Baffin Bay, and Hudson Bay; waters off the U.S. North 
Pacific (California to Washington); and the Arctic Ocean including 
Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. The applicant requests takes of 
humpback, fin, blue, sei, bowhead, North Atlantic right and North 
Pacific right, and Eastern North Pacific gray whales. See the 
application for specific take numbers by location and species/stock. 
Activities would include vessel surveys for passive acoustic recording, 
dermal and suction cup tagging, behavioral observations, photo-id, and 
tracking.
    A draft environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared in 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), to examine whether significant environmental 
impacts could result from issuance of the proposed scientific research 
permit. The draft EA is available for review and comment simultaneous 
with the scientific research permit application.
    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.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    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;
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018;
    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.


[[Page 31586]]


    Dated: May 22, 2012.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12962 Filed 5-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P