[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 241 (Thursday, December 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90781-90782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30083]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF063


Marine Mammals; File No. 20455

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 Randall Wells, Ph.D., Chicago 
Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine 
Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236 has applied 
in due form for a permit to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins 
(Tursiops truncatus) and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) 
for scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before January 17, 2017.

[[Page 90782]]


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. 20455 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.
    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: Shasta McClenahan or Amy Hapeman, 
(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.) and the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit to take bottlenose and 
spotted dolphins for scientific research to continue a long-term 
program to evaluate the health, environmental contamination, 
reproduction, population structure and dynamics, acoustics, trophic 
patterns, life history, social structure, and anthropogenic effects on 
dolphins off the west coast of Florida including bays, estuaries, and 
offshore waters. Up to 3,000 bottlenose and 1,000 spotted dolphins 
would be approached annually during vessel surveys for photography, 
photo-identification, video recording, behavioral observation, acoustic 
playbacks, and passive acoustic recording, with concurrent deployment 
of an unmanned aircraft system for photogrammetry. Up to 250 bottlenose 
and 100 spotted dolphins of the above animals may also be biopsy 
sampled during vessel surveys annually. Up to 50 bottlenose and 25 
spotted dolphins annually of the above animals may be captured for 
health assessments which would include biological sampling, auditory 
brainstem response tests, metabolic rate studies, ultrasound, x-rays, 
marking, tagging, tracking, and release. Calves less than 8 months of 
age and females with these calves would not be captured or remotely 
biopsy sampled. Up to 25 adults or juveniles of each species annually 
would be remotely satellite tagged to test the feasibility of a new 
experimental dorsal fin attachment method. Two unintentional 
mortalities of each species could occur due to capture over the life of 
the permit. The following species could be incidentally harassed during 
surveys: Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill sea turtle 
(Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys 
kempii), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), olive ridley sea 
turtle (L. olivacea), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), 
smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), and gulf sturgeon (Acipenser 
oxyrinchus desotoi).
    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: December 9, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30083 Filed 12-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P