[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 39750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16914]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD953


Marine Mammals; File No. 19108

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Daniel 
P. Costa, Ph.D., University of California at Santa Cruz, Long Marine 
Laboratory, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, to conduct research 
on northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) throughout their 
range in the U.S.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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: Amy Sloan, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 27, 2015, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (80 FR 30212) that a request for a permit to conduct 
research on the species identified above had been submitted by the 
above-named applicant. The requested permit has been issued 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).
    Permit No. 19108 authorizes continued research on northern elephant 
seal population status, reproduction, diving and fasting, physiology, 
and metabolism. Research methods include behavioral observations, 
marking, capture and sampling, instrumentation, translocation, short-
term captive holding, physiology studies, and acoustic studies. 
Research is permitted from California to Washington, but occurs 
primarily at A[ntilde]o Nuevo. Incidental harassment and mortalities of 
northern elephant seals, and incidental harassment of California sea 
lions (Zalophus californianus), northern fur seals (Callorhinus 
ursinus), and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) of the Eastern 
Distinct Population Segment is authorized. The permit expires June 30, 
2020.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: July 7, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-16914 Filed 7-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P