[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 220 (Monday, November 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 70760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28838]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC014


Marine Mammals; File No. 17670

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 a major amendment to Permit No. 
17670-02 has been issued to NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 
166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 (Responsible Party: William 
Karp, Ph.D.).

ADDRESSES: The permit 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: Amy Sloan or Rosa L. Gonz[aacute]lez, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 10, 2015, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (80 FR 39749) that a request for an amendment 
Permit No. 17670-02 to conduct research on gray (Halichoerus grypus), 
harbor (Phoca vitulina), harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and hooded 
(Cystophora cristata) seals had been submitted by the above-named 
applicant. The requested permit amendment has been issued 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. 17670-00 authorized takes of gray, harbor, harp, and 
hooded seals in waters within or proximal to the U.S. EEZ from North 
Carolina northward to Maine, during conduct of stock assessment 
research, including estimation of distribution and abundance, 
determination of stock structure, habitat requirements, foraging 
ecology, health assessment and effects of natural and anthropogenic 
factors. Types of take include harassment during shipboard, skiff, and 
aircraft transect and photo-identification surveys, and scat 
collection; and, capture with tissue sampling and instrument or tag 
attachment. A limited number of research-related mortality is also 
allowed, as well as world-wide import and export of pinniped samples. A 
minor amendment (Permit No. 17670-01) authorized sampling of pinniped 
carcasses aboard commercial fishing vessels. An additional minor 
amendment (Permit No. 17670-02) authorized nail clipping and fecal loop 
sampling during permitted captures.
    Permit No. 17670-03, issued September 28, 2015, includes 
authorization to increase the number and frequency of gray and harbor 
seal harassment and capture takes annually during research, add use of 
unmanned aircraft systems to survey seals, increase the number of 
biopsy samples taken (from one to two), increase the number of gray and 
harbor seal samples imported/exported annually, and allow euthanasia in 
the event sick or injured seals are inadvertently captured. The permit 
expires April 30, 2018.
    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: October 29, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-28838 Filed 11-13-15; 8:45 am]
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