[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 158 (Monday, August 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49210-49211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20209]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC554


Marine Mammals; File No. 17952

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., Department 
of Biology and Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, 
Santa Cruz, CA 95064, has applied for an amendment to Scientific 
Research Permit No. 17952-01.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before September 16, 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. 
17952 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)

[[Page 49211]]

713-0376, or by email to [email protected]. Please include File 
No. 17952 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 Sloan or Brendan Hurley, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 17952-01 
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. 17952, issued on June 11, 2013 (78 FR 37796), authorizes 
the permit holder to conduct long-term research on California sea lions 
(Zalophus californianus) studying their foraging, diving, energetics, 
food habits, and at sea distribution. Dr. Costa is authorized to 
capture, sample, and tag California sea lions and recapture tagged 
California sea lions throughout their U.S. range (California, Oregon 
and Washington). Harassment of California sea lions, harbor seals 
(Phoca vitulina), and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) 
incidental to research activities, unintentional mortalities of 
California sea lions, and import and export of pinniped samples is 
authorized. The permit was amended via a minor amendment (Permit No. 
17952-01) on October 22, 2014, to include attachment of cameras to 
instrumentation deployed on sea lions already permitted for capture, 
sampling, and instrumentation, and to include intubation during gas 
anesthesia. The permit expires June 7, 2018.
    The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to include 
authorization to (1) add remote darting as an approved capture method 
with use of various sedative drugs for adult and juvenile California 
sea lions, (2) increase incidental harassment takes of non-target 
California sea lions, (3) include incidental harassment takes for the 
Eastern stock of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and (4) 
include takes for capture and disentanglement of California sea lions. 
The proposed takes are delineated in the amendment application and are 
requested for the duration of the permit.
    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.

    Dated: August 12, 2015.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-20209 Filed 8-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P