[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36975-36976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15803]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC632


Marine Mammals; File No. 14809

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 Douglas Nowacek, Ph.D., Duke 
University--Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd., Beaufort, NC 
28516, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 
14809-01.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 29, 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. 
14809 Modification #5 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 Courtney Smith, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14809-01 
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 222-226).
    Permit No. 14809, issued on March 24, 2014 (79 FR 18526), 
authorizes the permit holder to conduct comparative research on 34 
species/stocks of cetaceans in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and 
Southern Oceans. Authorized activities include suction cup tagging, 
acoustic playbacks, passive acoustics, biopsy sampling, photo-
identification, behavioral observations, and incidental harassment 
during vessel surveys. The research objectives are to: (1) Document 
baseline foraging and social behavior of cetacean species under 
different ecological conditions; (2) place these behaviors in a 
population-level context; and (3) determine how these species respond 
to various natural sound sources. The permit is valid through March 31, 
2019. A minor amendment (-01) was issued on December 4, 2014 to the 
permit to authorize another type of suction cup tag. The permit holder 
is requesting the permit be amended to authorize the use of dart/barb 
tags during authorized tagging efforts on Cuvier's beaked whales 
(Ziphius cavirostris), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala 
macrorhynchus), Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus), Arnoux's beaked 
whales (Berardius arnuxii), Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera 
bonaerensis) and endangered humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) 
during vessel surveys. No other changes to the permit are requested.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.


[[Page 36976]]


    Dated: June 23, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-15803 Filed 6-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P