[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40859-40860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16916]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XX47


Marine Mammals; File No. 14097

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that National Marine Fisheries Service, 
Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) (Responsible Party: Lisa 
Ballance, Ph.D.), Protected Resources Division, 3333 N. Torrey Pines 
Ct., La Jolla, CA 92037, has applied for an amendment to Scientific 
Research Permit No. 14097-01.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before August 10, 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 home 
page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 14097 
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 below. 
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: Kristy Beard or Amy Hapeman, (301)427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14097-01 
is requested 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

[[Page 40860]]

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the 
taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species 
(50 CFR 222-226).
    Permit No. 14097, issued on July 7, 2010, (75 FR 40776), authorizes 
the permit holder to conduct scientific research on 5 pinniped species, 
57 cetacean species, and 5 sea turtle species in U.S. territorial and 
international waters of the Pacific, Southern, Indian, and Arctic 
Oceans as part of three projects. Under Project I (Pinnipeds) 
population assessments are conducted of northern elephant seals 
(Mirounga angustirostris), California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus), Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and harbor 
seals (Phoca vitulina) via aerial photography, ground or vessel 
surveys, and photogrammetry to determine abundance, distribution 
patterns, length frequencies, and breeding densities. Scats and 
spewings are collected from California sea lions to determine their 
diet. Under Project II (Cetaceans) surveys are conducted to determine 
the abundance, distribution, movement patterns, and stock structure of 
cetaceans. These studies are conducted through vessel surveys, aerial 
surveys, small plane photogrammetry, photo-identification (from vessels 
and small boats), biological sampling, radio tagging, and satellite 
tagging. Under Project III (Sea Turtles) surveys are conducted to 
determine the abundance, distribution, movement patterns, stock 
structure, and diet of sea turtles. Sea turtles may be 
opportunistically captured during Project II surveys for biological 
sampling and to attach satellite tags. Cetacean, pinniped, and sea 
turtle biological samples may be imported/exported. The permit was 
amended (to version no. 14097-01) on July 7, 2011, to authorize use of 
less invasive suction cup tags instead of a portion of the authorized 
dart/barb tag takes.
    The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to (1) 
include authorization for the attachment of dart/barb tags or 
implantable tags on Arnoux's beaked whales (Berardius arnuxii) in the 
Southern Ocean, using the methods authorized for other species; and (2) 
increase the takes of pinniped species encountered during aerial, 
ground, and vessel surveys in the Pacific Ocean, to account for ten 
additional surveys per year. The expiration date of the permit would 
not change: June 30, 2015.
    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 activities proposed are consistent with the Proposed Action 
Alternative in the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Issuance of a 
Scientific Research Permit [File No. 14097] for Pinniped, Cetacean, and 
Sea Turtle Studies (NMFS 2010). Based on that analysis, 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 July 1, 2010. The 
EA and FONSI are available upon request.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this 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; and
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)944-2200; fax (808)973-2941.

    Dated: July 5, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-16916 Filed 7-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P