[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23908-23909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09485]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC632


Marine Mammals; File No. 14809

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 Douglas Nowacek, Ph.D., Duke 
University--Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 
28516, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on 34 
cetacean species.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before May 23, 2013.

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. 14809 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: Carrie Hubard or Amy Hapeman, 
(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 222-226).
    The applicant is requesting a five-year permit to conduct 
comparative research on cetaceans in the North Atlantic, North Pacific 
and Southern Oceans. Methods to be used include suction cup tagging, 
acoustic playbacks, passive acoustics, biopsy sampling, photo-
identification, and behavioral observations. The applicant proposes to 
take three endangered cetacean species: humpback (Megaptera 
novaeangliae), sperm (Physeter macrocephalus), and southern right 
(Eubalaena australis) whales, as well as 31 cetacean species that are 
not listed as threatened or endangered. Of the 25 species that would be 
targeted for tagging and active acoustic playbacks, a maximum of 50 
individuals of each species or stock could be tagged and exposed to 
playbacks annually. The primary research objectives are to: (1) 
document baseline foraging and social behavior of cetacean species 
under different ecological conditions; (2) place these behaviors in a 
population-level context; and (3) determine how these species respond 
to various natural sound sources. Specifically, the applicant is 
interested in the influence of acoustic

[[Page 23909]]

stimuli on baseline behavioral patterns and behavioral variation 
between individuals and populations.
    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 activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    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;
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: April 18, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-09485 Filed 4-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P