[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18526-18527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07378]


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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; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to 
Douglas Nowacek, Ph.D., Duke University--Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke 
Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516, to conduct research on 34 cetacean 
species for scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Courtney Smith, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 23, 2013, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (78 FR 23908) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on 34 cetacean species, including three endangered 
species: humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), sperm (Physeter 
macrocephalus), and southern right (Eubalaena australis) whales, 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.), 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).
    Dr. Nowacek has been issued a permit to conduct comparative 
research on cetaceans in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and Southern 
Oceans. Authorized activities include suction cup tagging, acoustic 
playbacks, passive acoustics, biopsy sampling, photo-identification, 
behavioral observations, and incidental harassment during vessel 
surveys. 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. The

[[Page 18527]]

permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance.
    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.
    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.
    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;
Greater Atlantic 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: March 27, 2014.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-07378 Filed 4-1-14; 8:45 am]
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