[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 69 (Monday, April 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21323-21324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08169]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD224


Marine Mammals; File No. 18537

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. 
18537 has been issued to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
(ADF&G), Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, AK [Responsible 
Party: Robert Small, 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: Rosa L. Gonz[aacute]lez or Amy Sloan, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 8, 2016, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (81 FR 6508) that a request for an amendment 
Permit No. 18537 to conduct research on pinnipeds 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.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting 
of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the 
Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The original permit (No. 18537), issued on August 8, 2014 (79 FR 
19578), authorized ADF&G to take Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) 
during aerial, vessel, and ground surveys in support of the long-term 
Steller sea lion research program. It also authorized incidental 
disturbance of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), and 
northern fur (Callorhinus ursinus), harbor (Phoca vitulina), spotted 
(Phoca largha), ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata), ringed (Phoca hispida 
hispida), and

[[Page 21324]]

bearded (Erignathus barbatus) seals during research activities; and, 
annual unintentional mortality of 5 Steller sea lions from the Western 
Distinct Population Segment (wDPS) and 10 Steller sea lions from the 
Eastern DPS through August 31, 2019.
    Permit No. 18537-01 authorizes an increase in the number of 
California and Steller (wDPS) sea lions taken during aerial surveys 
from 4,725 to 10,000, and from 48,000 to 75,000, respectively; and an 
increase in the volume on a single blood draw from Steller sea lions 
from up to 1ml/kg to up to 4ml/kg.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NMFS determined that the activities proposed 
are consistent with the Preferred Alternative in the 2007 Final 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Steller Sea Lion 
and Northern Fur Seal Research, and the 2014 Environmental Assessment 
for Issuance of Permits to take Steller Sea Lions by harassment during 
surveys using unmanned aerial systems that analyzed the effects of UAS, 
which were not considered in the initial PEIS; and that issuance of the 
permit would not have a significant adverse impact on the human 
environment.
    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: April 5, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-08169 Filed 4-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P