[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51313-51314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20490]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648- XD224


Marine Mammals; File No. 18537

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 the 
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Wildlife 
Conservation, Juneau, AK, (Principal Investigator: Michael Rehberg), to 
conduct research on Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), within 
incidental disturbance of several pinniped species.

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: Courtney Smith or Amy Sloan, (301)427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 9, 2014 notice was published in the 
Federal Register (79 FR 19578) 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.), 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.), the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and 
threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur Seal Act of 
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 18537 supports continuation of ADF&G's long-term Steller 
sea lion (SSL) research program. It authorizes takes during research 
activities that incorporate improved methodology based on previous work 
authorized under permit No. 14325 and subsequent modifications, 
including: Incidental disturbance during aerial, skiff- and ground-
based count and brand resight surveys; captures supporting marking, 
external instrument attachment, and physiology, toxicology, feeding 
ecology and health sampling;

[[Page 51314]]

and permanent marking of pups and older age classes for describing 
vital rates and intra-/inter-Discrete Population Segment (DPS) 
movement. The permit authorizes takes by incidental disturbance of 
northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), California sea lions 
(Zalophus californianus), and harbor (Phoca vitulina), spotted (Phoca 
largha), ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata), ringed (Pusa hispida) and 
bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) due to the proximity of isolated 
individuals to the study area. See tables in permit for numbers of 
takes by species, stock and activity. Annual unintentional mortality of 
5 SSL from the Western DPS and 10 SSL from the Eastern DPS is 
authorized. The permit is valid through August 31, 2019.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NMFS has determined that the activities 
proposed are consistent with the Preferred Alternative in the Final 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Steller Sea Lion and 
Northern Fur Seal Research (NMFS 2007), and that issuance of the permit 
would not have a significant adverse impact on the human environment. 
An additional environmental assessment (EA) analyzing the effects of 
sUAS, which were not considered in the initial PEIS, on the human 
environment was prepared in compliance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Based on the analyses in 
the EA for Issuance of Permits to take Steller Sea Lions by Harassment 
During Surveys Using Unmanned Aerial Systems, 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.
    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.

    Dated: August 25, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-20490 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P