[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 66627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23339]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA160


Marine Mammals; File No. 15330

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 Robin Baird, Ph.D., Cascadia 
Research, 218\1/2\ W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, has been issued a 
minor amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 15330.

ADDRESSES: The 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: Shasta McClenahan or Carrie Hubard, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested amendment has been granted 
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 original permit (No. 15330), issued on July 28, 2011 (76 FR 
48146) authorized harassment of 40 cetacean species through vessel 
approach for sighting surveys, photographic identification, behavioral 
research, opportunistic sampling (breath, sloughed skin, fecal 
material, and prey remains), and aerial over-flights. All cetacean 
species except harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), right whales 
(Eubalaena japonica), Cook Inlet beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), 
and unidentified mesoplodon and baleen species will be targeted for 
dart and/or suction-cup tagging. Import and export of marine mammal 
prey specimens, sloughed skin, fecal, and breath samples obtained is 
authorized. Seven species of pinnipeds may be incidentally harassed 
during research activities. The original permit was valid through 
August 1, 2016. The minor amendment (No. 15330-03) extends the duration 
of the permit through August 1, 2017, but does not change any other 
terms or conditions of the permit.

    Dated: September 23, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-23339 Filed 9-27-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P