[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 243 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 79031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31879]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA602


Marine Mammals; File No. 16109

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. 
16109-02 has been issued to Versar, Inc. (formerly GeoMarine, Inc.) 
(Responsible Party: Susanne Bates), 700 International Parkway, Suite 
104, Richardson, TX 75081.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 11, 2014, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (79 FR 8159) that a request for an amendment 
Permit No. 16109-01 to conduct research on sea turtles and marine 
mammals 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.); 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 amended permit (No. 16109-02), issued December 2, 2015, 
authorizes the following changes to the permit: (1) Extended the action 
area north and south to include all U.S. waters from Maine to Florida; 
(2) added aerial surveys to the research methods; (3) added takes for 
Blainville's beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris), false killer 
whales (Pseudorca crassidens), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and 
green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas); (4) increased the number of marine 
mammals and sea turtles that could be harassed; and (5) changed the 
frequency of vessel based surveys from once per season to twice a 
month, year-round. The permit expires May 15, 2017.
    An environmental assessment (EA) analyzing the effects of the 
permitted activities on the human environment was prepared in 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined 
that issuance of the permit would not significantly impact the quality 
of the human environment and that preparation of an environmental 
impact statement was not required. That determination is documented in 
a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on December 1, 2015.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: December 15, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-31879 Filed 12-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P