[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59982-59983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20941]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RINS 0648-XZ51, 0648-XA524, 0648-XA756, 0648-XD824, 0648-XE041, 0648-
XE580, 0648-XE599, and 0648-XE622


Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File Nos. 15543-06, 15488-
01, 15537-02, 18890, 19091, 19116, 19638, 20283

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits and amendments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits or permit amendments have 
been issued to the following entities:
    Permit No. 15543-06: Randy Wells, Ph.D., Sarasota Dolphin Research 
Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, 
Sarasota, FL 34236;
    Permit No. 15488-01: Georgia Department of Natural Resources 
(GADNR), Wildlife Resources Division, 2070 U.S. Hwy 278 SE., Social 
Circle, GA 30025 (Dan Forster, Responsible Party);
    Permit No. 15537-02: Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS), 
P.O. Box 207, Gulfport, MS 39502 (Moby Solangi, Ph.D., Responsible 
Party);
    Permit No. 18890: Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG), 1255 
West 8th Street, Juneau, Alaska, 99811-5526 (Robert Small, Ph.D., 
Responsible Party);
    Permit No. 19091: NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), 
8901 La Jolla Shore Dr., La Jolla, CA 92037, [Lisa Ballance, Ph.D., 
Responsible Party];
    Permit No. 19116: Brandon Southall, Ph.D., Southall Environmental 
Services Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Suite 8, Aptos, CA 95003;
    Permit No. 19638: Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., University of California at 
San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093; and
    Permit No. 20283: Demian Chapman, Ph.D., School of Marine and 
Atmospheric Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794.

ADDRESSES: The permits 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: Jennifer Skidmore (Permit Nos. 15537-
02, 20283), Amy Sloan (Permit Nos. 15537-02, 15543-06, 18890, 19638), 
Carrie Hubard (Permit No. 15488-01), Amy Hapeman (Permit No. 19091), 
and Sara Young (Permit Nos. 19116 and 19638), (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notices were published in the Federal 
Register that requests for a permit had been submitted by the above-
named applicants, as applicable. The requested permits have been issued 
under the following authorities, as applicable: 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).
    Permit No. 15543 (Dr. Wells) was issued on May 26, 2011 (76 FR 
32144, June 3, 2011), authorizing research on bottlenose dolphins 
(Tursiops truncatus) in Florida including photo-identification, 
behavioral studies, remote biopsy sampling, and captures for health 
assessments. The purpose of the research is to study population 
structure and dynamics, life history, social structure, genetic 
structure, health and physiology, and human interactions including 
assessments of oil spill impacts. The permit was amended on four 
occasions to add minor changes to protocols, and on one occasion via a 
major amendment (80 FR 23258, April 27, 2015) to expand the study area 
to include Alabama and Louisiana, and to add studies on Atlantic 
spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). The issued minor amendment (No. 
15543-06) extends the duration of the permit through June 1, 2017, and 
adds the use of an alternative stable isotope and administration 
technique for physiology studies, but otherwise does not change any 
other terms or conditions of the permit.
    Permit No. 15488 (GADNR) issued on June 24, 2011 (75 FR 75458, 
December

[[Page 59983]]

3, 2010), authorizes research on North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena 
glacialis) off the coast of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. 
Activities include aerial surveys, vessel surveys, photo-
identification, biopsy sampling, and behavioral observations. The 
purpose of the research is to monitor population status, demographics, 
habitat and anthropogenic impacts. The issued minor amendment (No. 
15488-01) extends the duration of the permit through June 30, 2017, but 
does not change any other terms or conditions of the permit.
    Permit No. 15537 (IMMS) was issued on October 5, 2011 (76 FR 63286, 
October 12, 2011), authorizing the acquisition of up to eight stranded, 
releasable California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) from the NMFS 
Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program for the purposes of 
public display. Permit No. 15537 was amended on May 2, 2016 (81 FR 
33217, May 25, 2016), in response to a Court-ordered remand of the 
permit to NMFS for reconsideration. IMMS v. NMFS, No. 1:11CV318-LG-JMR 
(S.D.Miss. 2014). Permit Condition B.3 was removed, Permit Condition 
B.2 was amended and the permit was extended for one year. The issued 
permit amendment (No. 15537-02) further extends the duration of permit 
through December 31, 2018, but does not change any other terms or 
conditions of the permit.
    Permit No. 18890 (ADF&G 80 FR 15992, March 26, 2015) authorizes 
research on beluga (Delphinapterus leucas), bowhead (Balaena 
mysticetus), gray, and humpback whales in Alaska including photo-
identification, biopsy sampling, and tagging (large whales and belugas) 
and aerial surveys and captures for health assessments (belugas, 
excluding the Cook Inlet Distinct Population Segment). Research studies 
include population abundance (beluga), stock structure (bowhead, gray, 
humpback, and beluga), feeding areas and other important habitats (all 
species), migration routes (all species), behavior relative to human 
disturbance (all species), and to genetically identify individuals in 
order to determine survival and calving intervals (belugas). Ice seals 
may be incidentally captured or harassed during research. Biological 
samples may be imported or exported for analysis. The permit is valid 
for five years from the date of issuance.
    Permit No. 19091 (SWFSC; 80 FR 45196, July 29, 2015) authorizes 
research on over 55 species of marine mammals and five species of sea 
turtles in all oceans of the world, with special focus on the eastern 
Pacific Ocean. The purpose of this research is to determine the 
abundance, distribution, movement patterns, dive behavior, demography 
and stock structure, and to monitor trends in recruitment of pinnipeds, 
cetaceans, and sea turtles in U.S. territorial and international 
waters. Researchers may conduct ground, vessel, and aerial surveys for 
observation, photogrammetry, photo-identification, biological sampling, 
and tagging animals. A request to use fully implantable satellite tags 
for cetaceans was denied. Researchers also may salvage and receive/
import/export specimens and biological samples of these species. The 
permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance.
    Permit No. 19116 (Dr. Southall; 81 FR 29847, May 13, 2016) 
authorizes research involving studies of sound production, diving and 
other behavior, and responses to sound of sixteen species of marine 
mammals, including endangered species. This study involves close 
approaches, attachment of tags, and sound exposure. Small fragments of 
sloughed skin, which often remain attached to retrieved tags, would be 
used for genetic analyses. Target species include beaked whales and 
other odontocetes, key baleen whales, and pinniped species for whom 
such data have not been previously obtained; other marine species may 
be incidentally harassed. The permit is valid for five years from the 
date of issuance.
    Permit No. 19638 (Dr. Ponganis; 81 FR 29846, May 13, 2016) 
authorizes research to determine the role of blood oxygen store 
depletion in the dive behavior and foraging ecology of California sea 
lions on San Nicolas Island, California. Lactating females would be 
captured, flipper tagged, anesthetized, and equipped with a venous or 
arterial blood oxygen recorder, a velocity-acceleration-depth recorder, 
kinematic recorders, intravascular lactate sensor, or intravascular 
thermistor probe during foraging trips to sea. Animals would be 
recaptured after the foraging trip to remove the recorders. The pups of 
the females would also be captured and marked for ID purposes. Other 
pinnipeds may be incidentally harassed. The permit is valid for five 
years from the date of issuance.
    Permit No. 20283 (Dr. Chapman; 81 FR 33212, May 25, 2016) 
authorizes the import of scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) 
samples obtained from the Hong Kong fish market in order to assess 
global trade of shark fins through genetic analysis. Samples from up to 
200 individuals would be imported to the Florida International 
University for analysis. The permit is valid for two years from the 
date of issuance.
    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 
activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, 
with the exception of File No. 19116.
    For File No. 19116, an environmental assessment (EA) was prepared 
analyzing the effects of the permitted activities on the human 
environment in compliance with NEPA. 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, signed on July 8, 
2016.
    As required by the ESA, as applicable, issuance of these permits 
were based on a finding that such permits: (1) Were applied for in good 
faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered 
species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set 
forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: August 25, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-20941 Filed 8-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P