[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17721-17722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07493]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB157


Marine Mammals; File No. 14856

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 Bruce R. Mate, Ph.D., Hatfield 
Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, has 
applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 14856-02.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before May 4, 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 home 
page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 14856 Mod 
6 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: Amy Hapeman or Carrie Hubard, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14856-02 
is requested 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 (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. 14856-02, first issued on December 18, 2013 (79 FR 
3346), authorizes Dr. Mate to take 66 species of cetaceans and 12 
species of pinnipeds in U.S. and international waters worldwide for 
scientific research. The purposes of the research are to: (1) Identify 
migration routes; (2) identify specific feeding and breeding grounds 
for each species; (3) characterize local movements and dive habits in 
both feeding and breeding grounds, and during migration; (4) examine 
the relationships between movements/dive habits and prey distribution, 
time of day, geographic location, or physical and biological 
oceanographic conditions; (5) characterize whale vocalizations; (6) 
characterize sound pressure levels to which whales are exposed; and (7) 
gather photo-identification and behavioral information for species and 
situations where little information has been documented. Researchers 
are authorized to conduct aerial and vessel surveys to perform a suite 
of research activities including: Observations, biopsy

[[Page 17722]]

sampling, implantable and suction-cup tagging, photo-identification, 
behavioral observation, passive acoustic recording, post-tag 
monitoring, and/or import, receive or export parts. The permit expires 
December 31, 2018. Dr. Mate is requesting the permit be amended to 
increase the number of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) that 
may be taken by Level B harassment during surveys from 1,000 to 2,000 
animals annually to account for all approaches within 100 yards. No 
other changes to the permit or manner of research would occur.
    A draft supplemental environmental assessment (SEA) has been 
prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), to examine whether significant 
environmental impacts could result from issuance of the proposed 
scientific research permit. The draft SEA is available for review and 
comment simultaneous with the scientific research permit application.
    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: March 27, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-07493 Filed 4-1-15; 8:45 am]
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