[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 2, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 39713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15750]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC580


Marine Mammals; File No. 17751

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Yoko 
Mitani, Ph.D., Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato-cho, Hakodate, 
Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan, to conduct research on gray (Eschrichtius 
robustus) and killer (Orcinus orca) whales.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 26, 2013, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (78 FR 18322) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on the species identified above had been submitted by 
the above-named applicant. The requested permit has been issued under 
the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking and 
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 17751 authorizes Dr. Mitani to study gray and killer 
whales in Alaskan waters, including the Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, 
Chukchi Sea, and Arctic Ocean. The objectives of the research are to 
examine the distribution and movement patterns of gray and killer 
whales in the area. Research methods consist of vessel surveys, photo-
identification, behavioral observations, passive acoustics, thermal 
imaging, collection of sloughed skin and prey items, and dart tagging. 
Annually, up to ten killer whales and ten gray whales may have a LIMPET 
satellite dart tag attached. An additional 1000 animals of each species 
may be approached for non-invasive research activities or incidentally 
harassed annually. The permit is valid through June 30, 2018.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

     Dated: June 26, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-15750 Filed 7-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P