[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41538-41539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16666]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC100


Marine Mammals; File No. 17115

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 James Lloyd-Smith, Department of 
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los 
Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Box 723905, Los Angeles, CA 
90095-7239, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit 
No. 17115-02.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before August 15, 2014.

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. 17115 
from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the 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.
    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 File No. 17115 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: Amy Sloan, (301)427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 17115-02 
is requested 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. 17115-00 was issued on September 24, 2012 (77 FR 63296). 
A major amendment, Permit No. 17115-01, was issued on August 28, 2013 
(76 FR 56219). The permit was amended via a minor amendment (Permit No. 
17115-02) on March 14, 2014, to clarify anesthetic procedures. Permit 
No. 17115-02 authorizes the permit holder to study the prevalence of 
leptospirosis in wild California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in 
California. California sea lions may be taken annually (80 animals at 
A[ntilde]o Nuevo Island, 160 animals at San Nicolas Island, and 80 
animals in Monterey Bay) by capture (including restraint and 
anesthesia); marking and measuring; and sampling (blood, urine, 
vibrissae). A limited number of non-target sea lions may be captured 
and released without sampling. Incidental disturbance is authorized 
annually as follows: 5,000 sea lions, 3,000 northern elephant seals 
(Mirounga angustirostris), and 60 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) at 
A[ntilde]o Nuevo; 6,000 sea lions, 2,000 northern elephant seals, and 
100 harbor seals on San Nicolas Island; and 3,000 sea lions, 100 
elephant seals, and 50 harbor seals in Monterey Bay. The permit holder 
is authorized to disentangle and mark/sample a limited number of 
California sea lions encountered during the research activities. Eight 
unintentional mortalities of California sea lions are authorized over 
the duration of the permit. The permit expires September 30, 2017.
    The permit holder requests the permit be amended to: (1) Expand the 
current sampling season (March to May and August to November) to any 
time of year excluding peak pupping season on rookeries; (2) change the 
project location from A[ntilde]o Nuevo Island and Monterey Bay as 
separate locations to a combined coastal California area including 
offshore islands; (3) increase the number of sea lions sampled annually 
in coastal California from 120 to 160 annually (this includes 
A[ntilde]o Nuevo Island, Monterey Bay, and other coastal areas 
combined); (4) add captures of pups approximately 8-9 months old (20 
annually at all locations); (5) add water captures for new locations 
and use of injectable drugs; (6) increase incidental disturbance of 
California sea lions on San Nicolas Island from 6,000 to 10,000 
annually; (7) increase incidental disturbance from 8,000 California sea 
lions combined at A[ntilde]o Nuevo and Monterey Bay to 10,000 total in 
coastal California annually; (8) add incidental disturbance of eastern 
Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) (10 annually at all locations) 
and incidental disturbance of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) 
(150 annually in coastal California); and (9) take additional samples 
in the event of an unusual mortality event or disease outbreak.
    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

[[Page 41539]]

prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    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.

    Dated: July 10, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-16666 Filed 7-15-14; 8:45 am]
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