[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5990-5991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02059]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE417


Marine Mammals; File No. 19225

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that James D. Darling, Whale Trust, 
P.O. Box 384, Tofino, BC V0R2Z0 Canada, has applied in due form for a 
permit to conduct research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) 
and other cetacean and pinniped species.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before March 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 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 19225 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) 713-0376, or by 
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the 
subject line of the email comment.

[[Page 5991]]

    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 Carrie 
Hubard, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 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 222-226).
    The applicant proposes to address a variety of questions regarding 
social organization, behavior, and communication of humpback whales 
using passive acoustic monitoring, active playbacks, suction cup and 
dart tagging, biopsy sampling, underwater photography/videography, 
photo ID and photogrammetry during aerial and vessel surveys. Research 
would occur off Hawaii (primarily off west Maui), and Alaska. 
Incidental harassment is requested for the following non-target 
species: North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonica); false killer 
whales (Pseudorca crassidens); Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli); 
spinner (Stenella longirostris), pantropical spotted (S. attenuata), 
and bottlenose dolphins (Turisiops truncatus); killer whales (Orcinus 
orca); Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi); harbor seals 
(Phoca vitulina); and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). The 
permit is requested for 5 years.
    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 the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: January 29, 2016.
Perry F. Gayaldo,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
 [FR Doc. 2016-02059 Filed 2-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P