[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15992-15993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06869]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD824


Marine Mammals; File No. 18890

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game (ADFG) [Responsible Party: Robert Small, Ph.D., 1255 West 8th 
Street, Juneau, Alaska 99811-5526] has applied in due form for a permit 
to conduct research on bowhead (Balaena mysticetus), gray (Eschrichtius 
robustus), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and beluga (Delphinapterus 
leucas) whales.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 27, 2015.

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 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 18890 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 the File No. 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: Courtney Smith or Brendan Hurley, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), and 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 222-226).
    The applicant proposes to take the above listed species by research 
activities within the coastal areas and open waters of the Bering, 
Chukchi, and Beaufort seas adjacent to Alaska and the eastern Beaufort 
Sea in Canada over a five year period. Research topics include 
population abundance (beluga), stock structure (bowhead, gray, 
humpback, and beluga), feeding areas and other important habitats (all 
species), migration routes (all species), behavior relative to human 
disturbance (all species), and to genetically identify individuals in 
order to determine survival and calving intervals (belugas). Takes per 
year, including incidental harassment, are as follows. For bowhead 
whales, take includes tagging with biopsy (up to 320), and biopsy only 
(up to 150). For gray whales take includes tagging with biopsy and 
photo-id (up to 90 per year) and biopsy with photo-id (up to 160), and 
photo-id only (up to 350). For humpback whales, take includes tagging 
with biopsy and photo-id (up to 35), biopsy with photo-id (up to 40), 
and photo-id (up to 50). For beluga whales the type of take includes 
aerial survey (up to 4,000), capture for tagging and sample collection 
(up to 200 takes per stock per year), boat approach for remote biopsy 
(up to 450 per stock per year). For all species, import and export 
activities will include biological samples for genetic, health, and 
dietary studies. Non-target species listed under the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA) that may be taken incidentally include up to 10 ringed seals. 
Other non-target species include annual incidental takes of up to 10 
bearded, harbor and spotted seals and up to 10 beluga whales 
potentially taken during large whale (bowhead, gray and humpback) 
research.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42

[[Page 15993]]

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: March 20, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-06869 Filed 3-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P