[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 144 (Tuesday, July 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44939-44940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18454]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XS81


Marine Mammals; File No. 14296

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Briana Witteveen, Ph.D., 
University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, 
118 Trident Way, Kodiak, AK 99615, has been issued a minor amendment to 
Scientific Research Permit No. 14296-01.

ADDRESSES: The amendment 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: Courtney Smith or Amy Sloan, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested amendment has 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).
    The original permit (No. 14296), issued on July 14, 2010 (74 FR 
58243) through July 31, 2015 authorized scientific research on 
cetaceans year-round in the Gulf of Alaska, with an emphasis on 
examining prey use and foraging patterns of gray (Eschrichtius 
robustus), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback (Megaptera 
novaengliae), and killer (Orcinus orca) whales and exploring the 
responses of humpback

[[Page 44940]]

whales to acoustic deterrent devices. Takes may occur by close approach 
to collect photographs, recordings of vocalizations, biopsy samples, 
prey parts, sloughed skin, to attach suction cup tags, and to document 
response to acoustic deterrents. Sei (Balaenoptera borealis), blue 
(Balaenoptera musculus), minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), sperm 
(Physeter microcephalus), and North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena 
japonica) may be taken by close approach to collect photographs and 
biopsy samples. Other species of marine mammals might be incidentally 
harassed during research activities. A minor amendment to the permit 
(No. 14296-01) was issued on June 19, 2012 to allow researchers to 
attach tags using a carbon fiber wind surfing mast (i.e., a pole).
    The current minor amendment (No. 14296-02) extends the duration of 
the permit through July 31, 2016, but does not change any other terms 
or conditions of the permit.

    Dated: July 9, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-18454 Filed 7-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P