[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 41992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16970]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD179


Endangered Species; File No. 18528

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the NMFS National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory (Responsible Party: John Bengtson, Ph.D.), 7600 Sand Point 
Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070 has been issued a permit to take 
Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) for purposes of scientific 
research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 24, 2014, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (79 FR 15962) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take Steller sea lions had been submitted by the 
above-named organization. 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).
    Permit No. 18528-00 authorizes NMML to conduct research on the 
Western distinct population segment and Eastern distinct population 
segment of Steller sea lions in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and 
California to measure population status, vital rates, foraging ecology, 
habitat requirements, and effects of natural and anthropogenic factors 
pursuant to fulfilling the NMFS' legal requirements under the MMPA and 
ESA. Steller sea lions may be exposed to aerial surveys by manned or 
unmanned aircraft and vessel and ground surveys. Researchers may 
capture, sample, hot brand or non-permanently mark, and instrument sea 
lions. Non-target species that may be taken incidentally include 
northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in Alaska, California sea 
lions (Zalophus californianus) and northern elephant seals (Mirounga 
angustirostris) in Washington, Oregon, and California, and harbor seals 
(Phoca vitulina) in all states. The permit expires June 30, 2019.
    An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared analyzing the effects 
of the permitted activities on the human environment in compliance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined that issuance of the 
permit would not significantly impact the quality of the human 
environment and that preparation of an environmental impact statement 
was not required. That determination is documented in a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on June 17, 2014.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, 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 or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: July 15, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-16970 Filed 7-17-14; 8:45 am]
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