[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 35631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15204]



[[Page 35631]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XX69


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 13846 and 14353

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Jim Darling, Ph.D., Whale Trust, 
P.O. Box 384, Tofino, BC, V0R2Z0, Canada, and Ann Zoidis, Cetos 
Research Organization, 11 Des Isle Ave Bar Harbor, ME 04609, have been 
issued minor amendments to Scientific Research Permit Nos. 13846 and 
14353, respectively.

ADDRESSES: The amendments 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: Rosa L. Gonz[aacute]lez or Carrie 
Hubard, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested amendments have been granted 
under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and 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. 13846 was issued on July 14, 2010 (75 FR 43150) and 
subsequently amended on December 20, 2012, May 9, 2013 (78 FR 30872), 
October 23, 2013, and December 2, 2014. It authorizes Dr. Darling to 
study humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hawaii (primarily off 
west Maui) and humpback and Eastern gray (Eschrichtius robustus) whales 
off Washington and Alaska through July 31, 2015. Research activities 
can occur from a variety of platforms (vessel, aerial, and underwater) 
and include photo-identification, passive acoustic recording, 
behavioral observation, videorecording, collection of sloughed skin, 
photogrammetry, biopsy sampling, playback experiments, and suction cup 
and implantable tagging of target whales. The permit also authorizes 
incidental harassment of other cetacean and pinniped species. On May 
19, 2015, a minor amendment (No. 13846-05) was issued that extends the 
duration of the permit through July 31, 2016, but does not change any 
other terms or conditions of the permit.
    Permit No. 14353 was issued to Ann Zoidis on July 14, 2010 (75 FR 
43150) and subsequently amended on May 9, 2013 (78 FR 30872). It 
authorizes scientific research on humpback and minke (Balaenoptera 
acutorostrata) whales in Hawaiian waters through July 31, 2015. 
Research activities include photo-identification, behavioral 
observations, passive acoustic recording, underwater photo/videography, 
and suction cup tagging. A minor amendment (No. 14353-02) was issued on 
May 4, 2015 that extends the duration of the permit through July 31, 
2016, but does not change any other terms or conditions of the permit.

    Dated: June 16, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-15204 Filed 6-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P