[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76276-76277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30842]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA165


Marine Mammals; File No. 15510

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 Jennifer Burns, Ph.D., University 
of Alaska Anchorage, Biology Department, 3101 Science Circle, 
Anchorage, AK, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research 
Permit No. 15510.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before January 7, 2016.

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. 
15510 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,

[[Page 76277]]

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 15510 is 
requested 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), the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 15510, issued on April 25, 2011 (76 FR 25308), 
authorizes Dr. Burns to conduct physiology studies on development, 
thermoregulation, muscle performance, oxygen stores, and hormonal and 
other regulatory processes using marine mammal parts. Annually, Dr. 
Burns can obtain samples from up to 50 animals of each of the following 
species: harp (Pagophilus groenlandica), hooded (Cystophora cristata), 
gray (Halichoerus grypus), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), ringed (Phoca 
hispida), harbor (Phoca vitulina), spotted (Phoca largha), and ribbon 
(Histriophoca fasciata) seals; and to obtain samples annually from up 
to 6 captive Northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus; and 6 captive 
Steller Sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus. Samples may be from subsistence-
harvested animals in Alaska, and other scientific and/or subsistence 
collections including but not limited to the national waters of Canada, 
Norway, the United Kingdom, and in international waters. Samples may be 
collected, received nationally, and imported and exported worldwide 
over a five-year period for laboratory analysis to support the research 
objectives. The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to 
increase the number of harbor seals from which samples may be 
collected, received, imported, and exported from 50 to 100 annually; 
and, to extend the permit for 1 year. The permit would expire April 30, 
2017.
    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: December 2, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-30842 Filed 12-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P