[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87928-87933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29250]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2016-0150; FRL-9956-09-OW]


General Permit for Ocean Disposal of Marine Mammal Carcasses

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of final general permit.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a general 
permit to authorize the transport of marine mammal carcasses from the 
United States and disposal of marine mammal carcasses in ocean waters. 
Permit authorization is available for any officer, employee, agent, 
department, agency, or instrumentality of federal, state, tribal, or 
local unit of government, as well as any Marine Mammal Health and 
Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) Stranding Agreement Holder, and any 
Alaskan Native, who already may take a marine mammal under the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA). The 
EPA's purpose in issuing a general permit is to expedite required 
authorizations for the ocean disposal of marine mammal carcasses that 
otherwise currently require the issuance of an emergency permit.

[[Page 87929]]


DATES: This general permit is effective January 5, 2017.

ADDRESSES: This permit is identified as Docket No. EPA-HQ-OW-2016-0150. 
The record is closed but available for inspection from 9 a.m. to 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, at the Water 
Docket, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Room B-135, Washington, DC 20460. 
For access to docket materials, call 202-566-2426, to schedule an 
appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Rappoli, Ocean and Coastal 
Protection Division, Office of Water, 4504T, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: 202-566-1548; fax number: 202-566-1546; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    The general permit authorization is available for any officer, 
employee, agent, department, agency, or instrumentality of federal, 
state, tribal, or local unit of government, as well as any MMHSRP 
Stranding Agreement Holder, and any Alaskan Native, who already may 
take a marine mammal under the MMPA and ESA, to transport from the 
United States and dispose of a marine mammal carcass in ocean waters.

B. Does this action require the disposal of marine mammal carcasses in 
ocean waters?

    The general permit does not require ocean disposal; it merely 
authorizes ocean disposal when there is a need for such disposals.

II. Federal Law and International Conventions

    The EPA establishes general terms of authorization under Title I of 
the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), sometimes 
referred to as the Ocean Dumping Act, for the ocean disposal of the 
marine mammal carcasses. As defined under the MMPA, which is relevant 
for the purposes of this permit as explained later, the term ``marine 
mammal'' means any mammal that is morphologically adapted to the marine 
environment (including sea otters and members of the orders Sirenia, 
Pinnipedia, and Cetacea) or primarily inhabits the marine environment 
(e.g., polar bears). Other than for Alaskan Natives who would engage in 
subsistence uses, EPA does not anticipate that ocean disposal will be 
necessary for marine mammal carcasses except in unusual circumstances, 
such as but not limited to (1) beached and floating whale or large 
pinniped carcasses and (2) mass strandings of other marine mammals.
    Transportation for the purpose of disposal of any material in the 
ocean requires authorization under the MPRSA. In the past, the EPA has 
permitted the ocean disposal of cetacean (whales and related species) 
and pinniped (seals and related species) carcasses on a case-by-case 
basis, with emergency permits. The terms of this general permit are 
based on the EPA's past emergency permitting and will enable more 
timely authorization of such ocean disposals. The general permit 
applies to the transport of marine mammal carcasses from the United 
States for the purpose of ocean disposal.
    Living marine mammals are protected by federal law, including the 
MMPA, the ESA, the Whaling Convention Act (WCA), the Fur Seal Act, and 
international conventions, including the International Convention for 
the Regulation of Whaling, which established the International Whaling 
Commission (IWC), and the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Although the general permit 
applies only to marine mammal carcasses, certain IWC regulations are 
nevertheless relevant. Specifically, IWC regulations recognize that 
indigenous or aboriginal subsistence whaling is not the same as the 
commercial whaling that is subject to the IWC's whaling moratorium. As 
relevant to subsistence whaling in the United States, the IWC sets 
catch limits for the Western Arctic stock of bowhead whales based upon 
the needs of Native hunters in Alaskan villages. The hunt is managed 
cooperatively by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the 
Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission under the WCA and the MMPA.
    The Stranding Response Program of the NMFS and MMHSRP Stranding 
Agreement Holders are provided authority under this general permit 
because Stranding Agreement Holders are authorized to take marine 
mammals subject to the provisions of the 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 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Regulations Governing the Taking, Importing, 
and Exporting of Endangered and Threatened Fish and Wildlife (50 CFR 
parts 222-226), and/or the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1151 et seq.). As such, MMHSRP Stranding Agreement Holders may have a 
need for ocean disposal should stranded marine mammals die.

III. Strandings and Beachings

    Marine mammals that have died or have become sick or injured reach 
the ocean shoreline by a variety of mechanisms. Possible mechanisms 
include: Beaching, which involves a marine mammal carcass being driven 
ashore by currents or winds; stranding (single or multiple) of live 
marine mammal(s) that subsequently die; and transport on the bow of 
vessels. In most stranding cases, the causes of marine mammal 
strandings are unknown, but some causes may include: Disease, parasite 
infestation, harmful algal blooms, injuries due to ship strikes, 
fishery entanglements, pollution exposure, unusual weather or 
oceanographic events, trauma, and starvation. While many cetaceans and 
pinnipeds die every year, most carcasses never reach the shore; rather, 
the carcasses are consumed by other organisms or decompose sufficiently 
to sink to the ocean bottom where, depending upon size, the carcass may 
form the basis of an ``organic fall'' (e.g., kelp, wood, and whale 
falls) ecosystem.
    Stranding or beaching events may pose a risk to public health due 
to the potential for transfer to the public of communicable diseases 
(e.g., brucellosis, poxvirus and mycobacteriosis) from cetacean or 
pinniped carcasses. Cetacean or pinniped carcasses present a 
significant disposal concern due not only to the size of some carcasses 
but also due to the frequency with which carcasses reach the shoreline. 
For example, between February 2010 and February 2014, over 1000 
cetacean carcasses were found along the coast of the northern Gulf of 
Mexico.

IV. Hazard to Public Safety and Navigation

    A floating carcass near shore may pose a risk to public safety 
before making land fall to the extent it might attract predators (e.g., 
sharks) to a recreation use area in nearby waters. Floating carcasses 
near shore (e.g., in a harbor) also may pose a hazard to navigation. 
Per regulations promulgated by the Army Corps of Engineers, at 33 CFR 
245.20, the determination of a navigation hazard is made jointly by the 
Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). If such a 
determination is made, the Army Corps of Engineers determines 
appropriate remedial action as described in section 245.25, which may 
include removal of the carcass(es). Permit authorization to transport 
for the purpose of ocean

[[Page 87930]]

disposal will be available if the removal operation requires ocean 
disposal of such carcasses.

V. Disposal and Management Options

    For a dead marine mammal found along the shore, generally available 
options for marine mammal carcass disposal and management include: 
Allowing the carcass to decompose in place; burial in place; 
transportation to a landfill; incineration; and towing to sea for ocean 
disposal. Additional disposal options, such as rendering, composting, 
and alkaline hydrolysis, will depend on the availability of appropriate 
facilities. Selection of an option will depend upon factors such as 
carcass size, number of carcasses, availability of local resources, 
and/or location. This general permit concerns only the towing to sea 
for ocean disposal option.

A. In-Place Decomposition

    Allowing a carcass to decompose in place may be an acceptable 
option if the location of the carcass is on a remote portion of the 
shoreline that is sufficiently distant from population centers so that 
the carcass does not pose a risk for public health and animal health, 
or result in unacceptable olfactory or visual aesthetic impacts. This 
option may be the most practical when the carcass is located in an area 
that is inaccessible to heavy equipment, thereby making other options, 
such as burying in place or moving to a landfill, infeasible.

B. In-Place and Landfill Burial

    Burial of a carcass may be used as a disposal option, especially 
when the carcass is located near population centers or near areas used 
for recreational activities. A carcass may be buried near where the 
animal strands or beaches, usually above the high water mark, or 
transported inland for disposal, for example, at a municipal landfill. 
Disposal by trench burial involves excavating a trough, placing the 
carcass in the trench, and covering the carcass with the excavated 
material. The burial disposal option depends on the availability of 
appropriate excavation equipment but may be limited by potential 
environmental damage (e.g., destruction of dunes, beach grass, or 
nesting sites) caused by the transportation and operation of excavation 
equipment. While burial may be a cost-effective option for carcass 
disposal, it may not necessarily eliminate disease agents and disease 
transmission vectors that may be present, consequently posing a 
potential risk to human health and animal health.

C. Incineration

    The incineration option for carcass disposal, which includes both 
open-air burning and fixed-facility incineration, offers an advantage 
in terms of pathogen destruction. However, due to the high water 
content of marine mammal carcasses, incineration costs may limit this 
option to small carcasses. While open-air burning of carcasses may 
yield a relatively benign ash, the amount of particulate matter and 
pyrogenic compounds released to the atmosphere by open-air burning may 
be significant and may require authorization (or may be prohibited) 
under state or local air pollution control laws. Additionally, the EPA 
presumes that open-air burning may require the use of hydrocarbon 
fuels, which could result in contamination of the underlying soil. 
Fixed-facility incinerators, which include small and large incineration 
facilities, crematoria, and power plant incinerators, offer the 
advantage of being regulated facilities that meet local and/or federal 
emission standards; however, the use of the fixed-facility option 
depends upon the transportability of the carcass.

D. Ocean Disposal

    Sometimes, the only available carcass disposal option is towing to 
sea for ocean disposal. Ocean disposal may be appropriate after 
consideration and exhaustion of land-based alternatives, provided that 
an acceptable ocean dumping site can be identified, for example, where 
the release point is sufficiently far offshore that currents and winds 
are not expected to return the carcass to shore, and the carcass is not 
expected to pose a hazard to navigation. Positive buoyancy of the 
carcass may occur, depending on the time elapsed, due to the natural 
progression of the decomposition process. Consequently, appropriate 
carcass preparation (e.g., attachment of weights) may be necessary if 
the carcass must be sunk, rather than released, at the ocean disposal 
site so that the carcass will not return to shore or pose a hazard to 
navigation.

VI. Potential Consequences of Marine Mammal Carcass Disposal in the 
Ocean

    Most deep-sea benthic ecosystems are organic-carbon limited and, in 
many cases, are dependent upon organic matter from surface waters. A 
sunken carcass provides a large load of organic carbon to the sea 
floor. These local enrichments of the sea floor result in the 
establishment of specialized assemblages. Large organic falls occur 
naturally on the sea floor. Over 20 macro faunal species are known to 
exclusively inhabit the microenvironment formed by large organic falls 
and over 30 other macro faunal species are known to inhabit these 
sites.
    The deep-sea benthic ecosystem response to whale falls has been the 
subject of scientific study and several stages of succession have been 
observed in the assemblages. The duration of these stages varies 
greatly with carcass size. The first stage is marked by the formation 
of bathyal scavenger assemblages that include hagfishes, sleeper 
sharks, crabs, and amphipods. During the second stage, sediments 
surrounding the carcass, which have become enriched with organic 
carbon, become colonized by high densities of worms (e.g., 
Dorvilleidae, Chrysopetalidae). Once the consumption of soft tissue is 
complete, decomposition proceeds dominantly via anaerobic microbial 
digestion of bone lipids. The efflux of sulfides from the bones may, 
depending upon the size of the skeleton, provide for the formation of 
chemoautotrophic assemblages, which is the third stage of succession. 
These chemoautotrophic assemblages consist of organisms such as 
heterotrophic bacteria, mussels, snails, worms, limpets, and amphipods.
    Considering the available scientific information on organic falls, 
the EPA finds that the potential effects of carcass disposal are 
minimal for the following reasons: (1) Except for happenstance, 
cetacean and pinniped carcasses would sink to the ocean floor rather 
than wash ashore; (2) the formation of an organic fall is a naturally 
occurring phenomenon with no known adverse environmental impacts; and 
(3) towing or other transportation of a carcass to sea for ocean 
disposal, when other disposal options are not viable, presents a 
minimal perturbation to a naturally occurring phenomenon.
    The EPA's findings are consistent with the statutory considerations 
applicable to permit issuance under the MPRSA because: The general 
permit requires consideration of land-based alternatives; carcass 
disposal will not significantly affect human health, fisheries 
resources, or marine ecosystems; and carcass disposal will not result 
in permanent adverse effects.

VII. Regulatory Background

    MPRSA Section 102(a)(1), 33 U.S.C. 1412(a)(1), requires a permit 
for any person to transport any material from the United States for the 
purpose of dumping into ocean waters; Section 102(a)(2) requires that 
agencies or instrumentalities of the United States

[[Page 87931]]

obtain a permit in order to transport any material from any location 
for the purpose of ocean dumping. MPRSA Section 104(c), 33 U.S.C. 
1414(c), and the EPA regulations at 40 CFR 220.3(a) authorize the 
issuance of a general permit under the MPRSA for the dumping of 
materials which have a minimal adverse environmental impact and are 
generally disposed of in small quantities. The towing (or other 
transportation) of a marine mammal carcass by any person for disposal 
at sea constitutes transportation of material for the purpose of 
dumping in ocean waters, and thus is subject to the MPRSA. Because the 
material to be disposed will consist of the carcass or carcasses, there 
will be no materials present that are prohibited by 40 CFR 227.5.

VIII. Consideration of Alaskan Natives Engaged in Subsistence Uses

    The general permit includes specific considerations that apply to 
Alaskan Native persons engaged in subsistence uses. For purposes of 
this general permit, EPA intends the term ``Alaskan Native'' to be 
based on the statutory term defined at 16 U.S.C. 1371(b) that refers to 
``any Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo who resides in Alaska and who dwells on 
the coast of the North Pacific Ocean or the Arctic Ocean'' who takes a 
marine mammal for subsistence purposes or for purposes of creating and 
selling authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing and 
provided such taking is not in a wasteful manner.
    The general permit authorizes ocean disposal of marine mammal 
carcasses by an Alaskan Native engaged in subsistence uses for two 
reasons. First, marine mammals are comparatively abundant and widely 
distributed throughout coastal Alaska, and Alaskan Natives depend upon 
these natural resources for many customary and traditional uses. 
Collectively, these customary and traditional uses (e.g., food, 
clothing) are referred to as ``subsistence uses.'' Alaskan Native 
subsistence uses of marine mammals have been ongoing for thousands of 
years. More recently, the United States has recognized the importance 
of subsistence uses of marine mammals by Alaskan Natives through 
enactment of the MMPA, which expressly exempts Alaskan Natives engaged 
in subsistence uses from the general prohibition on ``taking'' marine 
mammals under certain circumstances (16 U.S.C. 1371(b)). The MPRSA, by 
comparison, does not include a similar exemption for the transport and 
disposal in ocean waters by Alaskan Natives when marine mammal 
carcasses (or parts thereof) have no further use for subsistence 
purposes. The general permit accommodates the absence of a similar 
exemption by facilitating authorization of ocean disposal of marine 
mammals by Alaskan Natives.
    Second, many coastal communities of Alaskan Natives engaged in 
subsistence uses are in remote locations and thus face a time-critical 
public safety issue, for example, when a marine mammal carcass washes 
ashore near a village or town, or a marine mammal is harvested or 
salvaged and the carcass is hauled ashore near a village or town. Such 
carcasses may attract bears or other scavenger animals, which may 
increase the risk of human injury or mortality. For these reasons, it 
would be prudent to expedite the removal and, if necessary, ocean 
disposal of such carcasses as soon as practical.
    With these considerations in mind, EPA's intent in developing the 
Alaskan Native-specific permit conditions (see Section B) is, to the 
maximum extent allowable, to avoid unnecessary interference with long-
standing subsistence uses and traditional cultural practices, and to 
recognize the unique circumstances faced by Alaskan Natives engaged in 
subsistence uses. In issuing this general permit, the EPA does not 
intend to change, alter or otherwise affect subsistence uses of marine 
mammals by Alaskan Natives engaged in subsistence uses. Section B sets 
forth requirements designed to address these considerations while also 
complying with the MPRSA and the EPA's accompanying regulations at 40 
CFR Subchapter H. The primary differences between Sections A and B 
relate to federal agency concurrence, distance from land requirements 
for ocean disposal, and reporting requirements.
    To further clarify, the general permit does not in any way require 
ocean disposal of marine mammal carcasses; it merely authorizes ocean 
disposal of marine mammal carcasses when there is a need for such 
disposals. Additionally, the general permit is not intended to and does 
not regulate: Any subsistence activities of Alaskan Natives, including 
hunting, harvesting, salvaging, hauling, dressing, butchering, 
distribution and consumption of marine mammals (or any other species 
used for subsistence purposes); the transportation and dumping of 
marine mammal carcasses on land, such as in whale boneyards or in 
inland waters (i.e., waters that are landward of the baseline of the 
territorial sea, such as rivers, lakes and certain enclosed bays or 
harbors); or leaving marine mammal carcasses to decompose in place on 
sea ice (or in a hole or lead in the sea ice), where there is no 
transportation by vessel or other vehicle for the purpose of ocean 
disposal. The purpose of this general permit is to expedite required 
authorizations that EPA otherwise currently manages through the 
issuance of an emergency permit for the ocean disposal of marine mammal 
carcasses.

IX. Discussion

    Considering the information presented in the previous section, the 
EPA determines that the potential adverse environmental impacts of 
marine mammal carcass disposal at sea are minimal and that marine 
mammal carcasses often must be disposed of in emergency situations to 
mitigate threats to public safety (e.g., recreational uses in nearby 
waters) as well as risks of navigation hazards. As such, issuance of a 
general permit is appropriate under the MPRSA.
    Authorization under Section A of the general permit is available to 
federal, state, and local government officials and employees acting in 
the course of official duties and to MMHSRP Stranding Agreement 
Holders. Section A authorizes such persons to transport and dispose of 
marine mammal carcasses in ocean waters. Section A requires that each 
such general permittee consult with the MMHSRP of NMFS--and recommends 
that each such general permittee consults with the applicable USCG 
District Office--prior to initiating any ocean disposal activities with 
respect to a marine mammal carcass. General permittees authorized under 
Section A must consult with and obtain concurrence from the applicable 
EPA Regional Office on selection of a disposal site, which must be 
seaward of the three mile territorial sea lines demarcated on nautical 
charts, and submit a report to the applicable EPA Regional Office on 
the ocean disposal activities.
    Alaskan Natives engaged in subsistence uses are not required to, 
but may, transport and dispose of marine mammal carcasses in ocean 
waters. When disposal in ocean waters is the selected disposal 
approach, Section B of the general permit authorizes any Alaskan Native 
engaged in subsistence uses to transport and dispose of a marine mammal 
carcass in ocean waters. Under Section B, the Alaskan Native general 
permittee selects an ocean disposal site sufficiently far offshore so 
that currents and winds are not expected to return the carcass to shore 
and the carcass is not expected to pose a hazard to navigation and 
afterwards submits an annual report to EPA Region 10 on ocean disposal 
activities conducted in the prior

[[Page 87932]]

calendar year. Section B does not require a statement of need for 
selecting ocean disposal nor does it specify a distance requirement. 
The State of Alaska has waived certification under Clean Water Act 
Section 401 for the Section B authorization.

X. Response to Comments Received

    The EPA received seven comments during the public comment period. 
The EPA agrees with several of the recommendations received via the 
public comment process. As a consequence, the EPA has made several 
changes to the general permit.
    In response to comments, the EPA added language to the General 
Information section to clarify that the general permit does not require 
ocean disposal of marine mammal carcasses. In addition, the EPA revised 
the requirements of Section A(2) regarding concurrence on the ocean 
disposal site. Because the presence of a marine mammal carcass near 
human habitation or recreation areas may pose a time-critical public 
safety issue, the requirement to obtain concurrences from multiple 
agencies might unnecessarily delay the disposal. In response to 
comments and in order to expedite ocean disposals in time-critical 
public safety situations, the general permittee authorized under 
Section A need only obtain concurrences from the appropriate EPA 
Regional Office and such concurrence may initially be provided via 
telephone. Finally, the EPA revised the reporting requirements of 
Section B applicable to Alaskan Natives engaged in subsistence uses. 
Under revisions to Section B, an Alaskan Native permittee may provide 
reports to EPA Region 10 on an annual basis. The EPA's intention 
regarding annual reporting for Section B permittees is to mitigate any 
potential burden on Alaskan Natives engaged in subsistence uses who may 
dispose of marine mammal carcasses in the ocean.

XI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collections under this general permit are covered 
under the MPRSA Information Collection Request (ICR) that has been 
submitted for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR document that the EPA 
prepared for all of MPRSA activities has been assigned EPA ICR number 
0824.06.
    Section 104(e) of the MPRSA authorizes the EPA to collect 
information to ensure that ocean dumping is appropriately regulated and 
will not harm human health or the marine environment, based on applying 
the Ocean Dumping Criteria. To meet United States' reporting obligation 
under the London Convention, the EPA also reports some of this 
information in the annual United States Ocean Dumping Report, which is 
sent to the International Maritime Organization.
    Respondents/affected entities: Any officer, employee, agent, 
department, agency, or instrumentality of federal, state, tribal, or 
local unit of government, as well as any MMHSRP Stranding Agreement 
Holder, and any Alaskan Native engaged in subsistence uses who disposes 
of a marine mammal carcass in ocean waters will be affected by the 
general permit. Under this general permit, respondents do not need to 
request permit authorization because the general permit already 
authorizes ocean disposal of a marine mammal carcass by an eligible 
person.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Pursuant to 40 CFR 221.1-221.2, 
the EPA requires all ocean dumping permittees to supply specified 
reporting information.

B. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action has tribal implications. However, the general permit 
will neither impose substantial direct compliance costs on federally 
recognized tribal governments, nor preempt tribal law. The general 
permit has tribal implications because it may affect traditional 
practices of some tribes.

    Dated: November 23, 2016.
Marcus Zobrist,
Acting Director, Oceans and Coastal Protection Division, Office of 
Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, Office of Water, Environmental 
Protection Agency.

General Permit for Ocean Disposal of Marine Mammal Carcasses

A. General Requirements for Governmental Entities and Stranding 
Agreement Holders

    Except as provided in Section B below, any officer, employee, 
agent, department, agency, or instrumentality of federal, state, 
tribal, or local unit of government, and any MMHSRP Stranding Agreement 
Holder, is hereby granted a general permit to transport and dispose of 
marine mammal carcasses in ocean waters subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. The permittee shall consult with the MMHSRP of NMFS prior to 
initiating any disposal activities. A fact sheet containing points of 
contact at MMHSRP is available at http://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/ocean-disposal-marine-mammal-carcasses.
    2. A disposal site must be seaward of the three mile territorial 
sea demarcated on nautical charts. The permittee shall consult with and 
obtain written concurrence (via email or letter) from the applicable 
EPA Regional Office on ocean disposal site selection. Because the 
presence of a marine mammal carcass near human habitation or recreation 
areas may pose a time-critical public safety issue, the permittee may 
obtain concurrence via telephone from the applicable EPA Regional 
Office provided that the permittee subsequently obtains written 
concurrence (via email or letter). A fact sheet containing points of 
contact at EPA is available at http://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/ocean-disposal-marine-mammal-carcasses.
    3. If a determination is made that the carcass must be sunk, rather 
than released at the disposal site, the transportation and disposal of 
materials necessary to ensure the sinking of the carcass are also 
authorized for ocean dumping under this general permit. When materials 
are to be used to sink the carcass, the permittee must first consult 
with and obtain written concurrence (via email or letter) from the 
applicable EPA Regional Office on the selection of materials. Any 
materials described in 40 CFR 227.5 (prohibited materials) or 40 CFR 
227.6 (constituents prohibited as other than trace amounts) shall not 
be used. The transportation and dumping of any materials other than the 
materials necessary to ensure the sinking of the carcass are not 
authorized under this general permit and constitute a violation of the 
MPRSA. Because the presence of a marine mammal carcass near human 
habitation or recreation areas may pose a time-critical public safety 
issue, the permittee may obtain concurrence via telephone from the 
applicable EPA Regional Office provided that the permittee subsequently 
obtains written concurrence (via email or letter).
    4. The permittee shall submit a report on the ocean disposal 
activities authorized by this general permit to the applicable EPA 
Regional Office within 30 days after carcass disposal. This report 
shall include:
    a. A description of the carcass(es) disposed;
    b. The date and time of the disposal as well as the latitude and 
longitude of the disposal site. Latitude and longitude of the disposal 
site shall be reported at the highest degree of accuracy available on 
board the vessel or vehicle that

[[Page 87933]]

transported the carcass (e.g., onboard geographic position system 
technology);
    c. The name, title, affiliation, and contact information of the 
person in charge of the disposal operation and the person in charge of 
the vessel or vehicle that transported the carcass (if different than 
the person in charge of the disposal);
    d. A statement of need and rationale for selecting ocean disposal 
rather than other disposal options; and
    5. The permittee shall immediately notify EPA of any violation of 
any condition of this general permit.

B. Requirements for any Alaskan Native Engaged in Subsistence Uses

    Notwithstanding Section A, any Alaskan Native engaged in 
subsistence uses is hereby granted a general permit to transport and 
dispose of marine mammal carcasses in ocean waters subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. The permittee shall submit a report (via email or letter) on all 
disposal activities authorized by this general permit that the 
permittee has conducted in the prior calendar year. Reports shall be 
submitted to EPA Region 10 within 30 days of the end of the calendar 
year. A fact sheet containing contact information for EPA Region 10 is 
available at http://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/ocean-disposal-marine-mammal-carcasses. This report shall include:
    a. The number and type of carcasses disposed;
    b. A description of the general vicinity in which the carcasses 
were disposed; and
    c. The name and contact information of the permittee.
    2. Where ocean disposal is the selected approach, marine mammal 
carcasses must be towed or otherwise transported to a site offshore 
where, based on available information, which may include local or 
traditional knowledge, currents and winds are not expected to return 
the carcass to shore and the carcass is not expected to pose a hazard 
to navigation.

[FR Doc. 2016-29250 Filed 12-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P