[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11180-11181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03334]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RINs 0648-XA888, 0648-XA599, 0648-XC599, 0648-XE469, 0648-XE684, 0648-
XE773, 0648-XE913, and 0648-XE915


Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File Nos. 15682, 16094, 
17845, 19627, 20197, 20452, 20341, and 20658

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit and permit amendments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits and permit amendments have 
been issued to the following entities:
    RIN 0648-XA888; Permit No. 15682-01: Mithriel MacKay, Ph.D., 1394 
Alameda Ave., Spring Hill, FL 34609;
    RIN 0648-XA599; Permit No. 16094-04: Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game, Wildlife Conservation, 1255 West 8th Street, Juneau, AK 99811-
5526 (Responsible Party: Robert Small, Ph.D.);
    RIN 0648-XC599; Permit No. 17845-03: Rachel Cartwright, Ph.D., 
Keiki Kohola Project, 4945 Coral Way, Oxnard, CA 93035;
    RIN 0648-XE469; Permit No. 19627: NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Room 207, Miami, FL 33149 (Responsible 
Party: Dr. Bonnie Ponwith);
    RIN 0648-XE684; Permit No. 20197: NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 025433 (Responsible Party: Dr. 
Jon Hare);
    RIN 0648-XE773; Permit No. 20341: Craig Matkin, North Gulf Oceanic 
Society, 3430 Main St., Suite B1, Homer, AK 99603;
    RIN 0648-XE913; Permit No. 20452: SMRU Consulting North America, 
LLC, P.O. Box 764, Friday Harbor, WA 98250;
    RIN 0648-XE915; Permit No. 20658: Joseph Wilson, 1st Augustine's 
Yard, Gaunts Lane, Bristol, BS1 5DE, United Kingdom;

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: Carrie Hubard (File Nos. 15682, 17845 
and 20532), Sara Young (File Nos. 16094 and 20452), Shasta McClenahan 
(File Nos. 17845, 20532, and 20658), Amy Hapeman (File Nos. 19627, 
20197, & 20658), and Erin Markin (File Nos. 19627, & 20197) at (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notices were published in the Federal 
Register that requests for a permit or permit amendment had been 
submitted by the above-named applicants. The requested permits have 
been issued under 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), as 
applicable.
    Permit No. 15682-01: The original permit (No. 15682), issued on 
December 20, 2011 (77 FR 268, January 4, 2012) authorized Dr. MacKay up 
to 700 takes of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) annually in 
waters off Puerto Rico during vessel-based photo-identification, 
behavioral observation, and passive acoustic recording. The minor 
amendment (No. 15682-01) extends the duration of the permit through 
December 31, 2017, but does not change any other terms or conditions of 
the permit.
    Permit No. 16094-04: The original permit (No. 16094), issued on 
September 20, 2011 (76 FR 61345, October 4, 2011) authorized the permit 
holder to conduct research on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) throughout 
their range in Alaska, including Southeast Alaska, Gulf of Alaska, and 
Bering Sea. Subsequent amendments were issued on March 28, 2012 (Permit 
No. 16094-01), June 1, 2012 (Permit No. 16094-02), and March 5, 2013 
(Permit No. 16094-03). The minor amendment (No. 16094-04) extends the 
duration of the permit through December 31, 2017, but does not change 
any other terms or conditions of the permit.
    Permit No. 17845-03: Permit No. 17845, issued on January 25, 2014 
(79 FR 5382), authorizes Level A and B harassment of humpback whales 
during photo-identification, behavioral follows, and surface and 
underwater observations in Hawaii, Alaska, and California. Nine other 
cetacean species may be studied opportunistically and

[[Page 11181]]

two species of pinnipeds may be incidentally harassed. The permit 
amendment (81 FR 67997, October 3, 2016) authorizes Level B playbacks 
for humpback whales in Hawaii to estimate their hearing range using 
behavioral observation audiometry. The sounds will be presented to a 
maximum of 300 humpback whales and their behavioral responses will be 
measured through visual and acoustic recordings including an unmanned 
aerial system. Only humpback whales will be targeted for active 
playback, but incidental harassment to additional species may occur 
including bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), spinner dolphins 
(Stenella longirostris), false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), 
melon headed whales (Peponocephala electra), and short-finned pilot 
whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus). The permit is valid through 
January 31, 2019.
    Permit No. 19627: The requested permit (81 FR 12077, March 8, 2016) 
authorizes the permit holder to monitor and provide data on green 
(Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley 
(Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead 
(Caretta caretta), and olive ridley (L. olivacea) sea turtles that 
interact with commercial fisheries and other authorized activities in 
the Gulf of Mexico and along the U.S. East Coast. Researchers may 
handle, photograph, measure, weigh, flipper and passive integrated 
transponder tag, tissue sample, and temporary carapace mark live sea 
turtles and salvage dead specimens legally taken during commercial 
fishing and other activities. The permit is valid through January 15, 
2022.
    Permit No. 20197: The requested permit (81 FR 41296, June 24, 2016) 
authorizes researchers to collect data on green, Kemp's ridley, 
leatherback, loggerhead, and unidentified sea turtles that interact 
with commercial fisheries in the U.S. Northwest Atlantic Ocean. 
Researchers may handle, photograph, measure, weigh, flipper tag, and 
tissue sample live sea turtles and salvage dead specimens legally taken 
in commercial fisheries. The permit is valid through January 15, 2022.
    Permit No. 20341: The requested permit (81 FR 59196, August 29, 
2016) authorizes photo-identification, passive acoustics, 
morphometrics, biopsy sampling, and deployment of both suction cup and 
dart tagging in Alaskan waters for killer (Orcinus orca), gray 
(Eschrichtius robustus), minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Baird's 
beaked (Berardius bairdii), Cuvier's beaked (Ziphius cavirostris), and 
Stejneger's beaked (Mesoplodon stenergeri) whales. Photogrammetry using 
unmanned aircraft systems may be used for killer whales. Prey remains 
may be collected from minke and gray whales, harbor porpoise (Phocoena 
phocoena), Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), harbor seals, Pacific 
white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and northern fur 
seals (Callorhinus ursinus). The permit is valid through December 31, 
2021.
    Permit No. 20452: The requested permit (81 FR 68406, October 4, 
2016) authorizes a combination of land-based surveys and passive 
acoustic monitoring methods to characterize the fine-scale habitat use 
of harbor porpoise and pinnipeds in tidal inlets directed at harbor 
porpoises and harbor seals in Washington waters. Steller sea lions 
(Eumetopias jubatus) and California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) 
may also be taken by acoustic playbacks and UAS.
    Permit No. 20658: The requested permit (81 FR 70101, October 11, 
2016) authorizes Mr. Wilson to film and photograph killer and Antarctic 
minke (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) whales in McMurdo Sound and the Ross 
Sea for the production of a documentary film for Disneynature studio. 
Up to 60 whales of each species per year may be targeted and disturbed 
during aerial filming and photography. The permit is valid through 
December 31, 2018.
    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.
    As required by the ESA, as applicable, issuance of these permits 
and amendments were based on a finding that such permits and 
amendments: (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: February 15, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03334 Filed 2-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P