[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 41938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18681]



[[Page 41938]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD900


Marine Mammals; File No. 18786-02

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Office of Protected 
Resources, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program 
(Responsible Party: Teri Rowles, D.V.M., Ph.D.), 1315 East West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, has applied for an amendment to 
Scientific Research Permit No. 18786-01.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before October 5, 2017.

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 
home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 
18786-02 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 Sloan, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 18786-02 
is requested 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 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 18786, issued on June 30, 2015 (80 FR 44939), authorizes 
the permit holder to: (1) Carry out response, rescue, rehabilitation 
and release of threatened and endangered marine mammals under NMFS 
jurisdiction (Cetacea and Pinnipedia [excluding walrus]), and 
disentanglement of all marine mammals under NMFS jurisdiction, pursuant 
to sections 109(h), 112(c), and Title IV of the MMPA; and, carry out 
such activities as enhancement pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the 
ESA; (2) Conduct health-related, bona fide scientific research studies 
on marine mammals and marine mammal parts under NMFS jurisdiction 
pursuant to sections 104(c) and Title IV of the MMPA and section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA, including research related to emergency 
response that may involve compromised animals, and research on healthy 
animals that have not been subject to emergency response (e.g., 
baseline health studies); (3) Conduct Level B harassment on all marine 
mammal species under NMFS jurisdiction incidental to MMHSRP activities 
in the U.S.; and (4) Collect, salvage, receive, possess, transfer, 
import, export, analyze, and curate marine mammal specimens under NMFS 
jurisdiction for purposes delineated in numbers (1) and (2) above.
    The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to include 
authorization to: (1) Increase the number of dolphins captured, 
handled, and released for research by 200 takes; (2) increase the 
number of research takes for non-ESA listed pinniped species by 200 
takes for directed research and by 500 takes for sampling under other 
permitted research; (3) increase the number of research takes for non-
ESA listed large whales by 400 takes; (4) add 10 dedicated research 
takes for the proposed ESA-listed Gulf of Mexico subspecies of Bryde's 
whale (Balaenoptera edeni); and (5) clarify that new methods and tools 
may be used during emergency response.
    An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared for the original 
permit (No. 18786) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), to examine whether significant 
environmental impacts could result from issuance of the proposed 
scientific research permit. 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 (FONSI), signed on 
June 29, 2017. The activities in this proposed amendment are consistent 
with the analyses in the original EA and no additional NEPA analysis is 
required for the issuance of this amendment. The original EA and FONSI 
are available upon request.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: August 30, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-18681 Filed 9-1-17; 8:45 am]
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