[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 33199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13572]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XR52


Marine Mammals; File No. 14534

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a major amendment to Permit No. 
14534-01 has been issued to NOAA's Office of Science and Technology, 
Silver Spring, MD, (Brandon Southall, Ph.D.--Principal Investigator) 
for research on marine mammals.

ADDRESSES: The permit amendment 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; and
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, 
CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 9, 2011, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (76 FR 76949) that the above-named applicant 
submitted a request for an amendment to Permit No. 14534-01 to conduct 
research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaengliae), minke whales 
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and killer whales (Orcinus orca). The 
requested permit amendment has been issued under the authority of the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (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 amendment increases the take numbers for these three cetacean 
species, making them focal species under the permit, subject to tagging 
and intentional exposure to sound playbacks with associated behavioral 
observations. The location of the research is unchanged and remains 
focused in the waters within the U.S. Navy's Southern California Range 
Complex, and primarily near the vicinity of San Clemente Island. The 
amendment is valid through the original expiration date of the permit, 
July 31, 2015.
    An environmental assessment (EA) analyzing the effects of the 
permitted activities on the human environment was prepared in 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined 
that issuance of the permit would not significantly impact the quality 
of the human environment and that preparation of an environmental 
impact statement was not required. That determination is documented in 
a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on May 14, 2012.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: May 30, 2012.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-13572 Filed 6-4-12; 8:45 am]
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