[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32571-32572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13330]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB157


Marine Mammals; File No. 14856

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 Bruce R. Mate, Ph.D., Hatfield 
Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, has 
applied in due form for a permit to take marine mammals world-wide for 
the purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 2, 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. 14856 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: Laura Morse 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.), the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur 
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Dr. Mate proposes to conduct scientific research on 83 identified 
species of marine mammals species world-wide. The purposes of the 
proposed research are to: (1) Identify migration routes; (2) identify 
specific feeding and breeding grounds for each species; (3) 
characterize local movements and dive habits in both feeding and 
breeding grounds, and during migration; (4) examine the relationships 
between movements/dive habits and prey distribution, time of day, 
geographic location, or physical and biological oceanographic 
conditions; (5) characterize whale vocalizations; and (6) characterize 
sound pressure levels to which whales are exposed. Fourteen species of 
large whales would be approached for biopsy, implantable and suction 
cup tagging, photo-identification, behavioral observation, passive 
acoustic recording, and assessment of possible tag effects in U.S. and 
international waters worldwide over a 5-year period, including 200 each 
of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), blue whale (Balaenoptera 
musculus), fin whale (B. physalus), sei whale (B. borealis), Bryde's 
whale (B. edeni), minke whale (B. acutorostrata), Antarctic minke whale 
(B. bonaerensis), Eastern North Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius 
robustus), Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), bowhead whale

[[Page 32572]]

(Balaena mysticetus), and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus); 100 
killer whales (Orcinus orca), excluding the Southern Resident stock; 60 
North Pacific right whales (E. japonica); and 25 Western North Pacific 
gray whales. The remaining species including beluga whale 
(Delphinapterus leucas) Cook Inlet stock, killer whale southern 
resident stock, false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) Hawaiian 
insular stock, Steller sea lions, Eastern and Western Distinct 
Populations Segments (Eumetopias jubatus), Guadalupe fur seal 
(Arctocephalus townsendi), Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi), 
bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), and ringed seal (Pusa hispida), may 
be incidentally harassed during tagging and biopsy activities or would 
be approached for photo-identification, behavioral observation, and 
passive acoustic recording. Import, export and receipt of biopsy 
samples are also requested.
    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;
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)944-2200; fax (808)973-2941;
    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.

    Dated: May 23, 2012.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-13330 Filed 5-31-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P