[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18527-18528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07370]


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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, 8901 La Jolla Shores 
Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, has applied for two amendments to Scientific 
Research Permit No. 14097-03.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before May 2, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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, 
Modification 24 or 25 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 amendments to Permit No. 14097-
03 are 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 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 SWFSC 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 for 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 was amended 
(to version no. 14097-02) on September 6, 2012, to authorize (1) the 
attachment of dart/barb tags or implantable tags on Arnoux's beaked 
whales (Berardius arnuxii) in the Southern Ocean; and (2) an increase 
in 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 permit was amended (to version no. 14097-03) on 
September 13, 2013, to (1) authorize the development of cell lines; and 
(2) add individuals as authorized recipients of sea turtle samples. 
Permit No. 14097 has also had numerous modification requests to add 
personnel, making these requests numbers 24 and 25.
    In Modification 24, the SWFSC is requesting the permit be 
amended to include authorization to (1) use an unmanned aerial system 
to photograph cetaceans and collect breath samples from gray whales 
(Eschrichtius robustus); (2) suction cup tag gray whales; (3) attach 
dart/barb tags to 15 bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and 15 Risso's 
dolphins (Grampus griseus) per year. Except for the requested 
bottlenose and Risso's dolphins, the number of cetaceans that would be 
taken annually would not change from what is

[[Page 18528]]

currently authorized. In Modification 25, the SWFSC is 
requesting the permit be amended to authorize multiple biopsy samples 
of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Southern Ocean to 
determine if the stable isotope signature is different on different 
parts of the body. Specifically, they request to biopsy up to 25 
humpback whales no more than 5 times each in a 12-month period. No more 
than three samples would be collected within 24 hours. The number of 
humpback whales that would be taken annually would not change from what 
is currently authorized. The expiration date of the permit would also 
be extended by 12 months, to June 30, 2016.
    A draft supplemental environmental assessment (SEA) was 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 either proposed amendment to the 
scientific research permit. Based on the analyses in the draft SEA, 
NMFS determined that issuance of the permit amendments would not 
significantly impact the quality of the human environment and that 
preparation of an environmental impact statement was not required. The 
draft SEA is available upon request. The EA prepared for the original 
permit resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), signed 
on July 1, 2010. That EA and FONSI are also 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: March 28, 2014.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-07370 Filed 4-1-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P