[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 213 (Monday, November 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51397-51398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24029]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF734


Marine Mammals; File No. 20626

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 James H.W. Hain, Ph.D., Box 721, 
Woods Hole, MA 02543, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
research on North Atlantic right (Eubalaena glacialis) and humpback 
(Megaptera novaeangliae) whales.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before December 6, 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 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 20626 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

[[Page 51398]]

[email protected]. Please include the File No. 20626 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: Carrie Hubard or Shasta McClenahan, 
(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.), 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 222-226).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit to conduct aerial and 
vessel surveys for North Atlantic right whales (NARW) off South 
Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The primary study area is in Florida 
from St. Augustine to Canaveral National Seashore. Research would 
mainly occur in coastal waters. Survey platforms include boats, 
airplanes, aerostats, blimps, and unmanned aircraft systems. Up to 160 
NARW could be approached annually (100 via aerial surveys, 60 via 
vessel surveys) for behavioral observations, photo-identification, 
counts, and passive acoustic recordings. Up to 10 humpback whales may 
be encountered annually and would be studied in the same manner as 
NARW. Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and Atlantic spotted (Stenella 
frontalis) dolphins and minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and fin (B. 
physalus) whales may be incidentally harassed. The objectives of the 
research are to: (1) Improve knowledge of NARW habitat utilization; (2) 
help monitor annual reproductive success; (3) develop and implement 
programs for population monitoring in the portion of the NARW critical 
habitat between St. Augustine, Florida and Canaveral National Seashore; 
(4) assist in both pre- and post-tag observations (e.g., documentation 
of post-tag healing and tag retention) of whales tagged by other permit 
holders; (5) contribute to the NARW photo-identification catalog; and 
(6) contribute data on the co-occurrence of NARW and human activities.
    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: October 31, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-24029 Filed 11-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P