[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 8435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03874]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG028


Marine Mammals; File No. 21238

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 the Center for Whale Research 
(Responsible Party: Kenneth Balcomb III), 355 Smuggler's Cove Road, 
Friday Harbor, WA, 98250, has applied in due form for a permit to 
conduct research on marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before March 29, 2018.

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. 21238 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.), 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).
    The applicant proposes to take 19 species of cetaceans and four 
species of pinnipeds primarily in the inland marine waters of 
Washington State, may also include territorial waters up to 200 miles 
offshore of Oregon, California, and Alaska. The ESA listed species 
include blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (B. physalus), (Megaptera 
novaeangliae), North Pacific right (Eubalaena japonica), sperm 
(Physeter macrocephalus), and Southern Resident killer (Orcinus orca) 
whales, and the Western stock of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias 
jubatus). The primary objective of the research is to monitor the 
population size, demographics, range, movement, social structure, 
health, and body condition of Southern resident killer whales, and 
secondarily, to monitor the population size and demographics of other 
marine mammals in the study area. Research activities would include 
manned and unmanned aerial surveys and vessel surveys for counts, 
photography, photo-identification, video recording, observation, 
passive acoustic recording, and opportunistic sampling of sloughed 
skin, feces, and predation remains. The permit would expire five years 
after the date of issuance.
    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: February 21, 2018.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-03874 Filed 2-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P