[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 131 (Thursday, July 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 39411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16779]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XS35


Marine Mammals; File No. 14450

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 the NMFS Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center (SEFSC), 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149 
[Principal Investigator: Dr. Keith Mullin], has applied for an 
amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 14450-02.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before August 10, 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. 14450 
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. 14450 
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: Jennifer Skidmore or Amy Hapeman, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14450-02 
is requested 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).
    Permit No. 14450-02, last amended on December 31, 2014, authorizes 
the SEFSC to take all cetacean species that occur in U.S. and 
international waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and 
Caribbean Sea. Activities include aerial and vessel-based line-transect 
sampling, acoustic sampling, behavioral observations, vessel-based 
photo-identification, and biopsy sampling. Satellite tagging of ESA-
listed large whales is also authorized. Tissue samples collected in 
other countries may be imported into the U.S. The permit expires on 
February 28, 2019.
    The SEFSC is requesting the permit be amended to authorize 
satellite tagging of non-ESA listed cetaceans during authorized vessel 
surveys to support NMFS stock assessments as follows: 40 Bryde's whales 
(Balaenoptera edeni), 40 of each species of short-finned (Globicephala 
macrorhynchus) and long-finned (Globicephala melas) pilot whales, and 
20 individuals each of the 21 other authorized non-listed cetacean 
species, annually. Tags would be either suction cup attachments, fully 
implantable or minimally invasive dart attachments. A maximum of 2 tags 
could be placed on an animal at one time. Adults of both sexes without 
calves would be tagged. In addition, the SEFSC is requesting 
authorization to import and export marine mammals samples from sources 
(other than currently authorized biopsy sampling) to support the NMFS 
research on these species.
    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 activities proposed are 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 amendment requests to the 
Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: June 30, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-16779 Filed 7-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P