[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 51314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20491]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XV92


Marine Mammals; File No. 14610

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a major amendment to Permit No. 
14610-02 has been issued to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
(ADFG), Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, AK (Principal 
Investigator: Lori Quakenbush).

ADDRESSES: The permit amendment 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 Carrie Hubard, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 9, 2014, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (79 FR19579) that a request for an amendment to 
Permit No. 14610-02 to conduct research on beluga whales 
(Delphinapterus leucas), endangered bowhead whales (Balaena 
mysticetus), gray whales (Eschrictius robustus), and endangered 
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) had been submitted by the 
above-named applicant. The requested permit amendment 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).
    The previous permit (No. 14610-02) authorized vessel and aerial 
surveys, remote biopsy and instrument attachment for the above listed 
cetacean species. Amended Permit No. 14610-03 now authorizes take for 
vessel surveys and photo-identification to determine stock or feeding 
group affiliation of gray whales encountered in Alaskan waters (Chukchi 
and western Beaufort seas). Additional gray whale takes by harassment 
during photo-identification efforts (300 annually), and tagging and 
biopsy activities (50 annually) are now authorized. The amendment also 
authorizes tag attachment methods to be altered to allow for the 
attachment of tags using a two-anchor system on bowhead whales. The 
amended permit is valid through the expiration date of the original 
permit, May 31, 2015.
    A supplement environmental assessment (SEA) analyzing the effects 
of the permitted activities 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 SEA, NMFS determined 
that issuance of the permit amendment 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, signed on August 8, 
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. 2014-20491 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P