[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24978-24979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11640]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG241


Marine Mammals; File No. 21856

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 ABR, Inc. Environmental Research 
and Services, P.O. Box 80410, Fairbanks, AK 99708, has applied in due 
form for a permit to conduct research on 12 species of marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 2, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public

[[Page 24979]]

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. 21856 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are 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: Sara Young 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), and the Fur Seal Act 
of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The applicant proposes to conduct unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) 
and manned aerial surveys in Kamishak Bay, Alaska to collect baseline 
seasonal abundance and distribution data on marine mammals. The 
applicant proposes to take marine mammals during aerial surveys for 
behavioral observations, photography, counts, and videography. The 
applicant requests the annual take of 12 species: 1,050 endangered 
Western DPS Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), 150 endangered Cook 
Inlet beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), 10,139 harbor seals (Phoca 
vitulina), 600 harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), 150 Dall's 
porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli), 130 minke whales (Balaenoptera 
acutorostrata), 60 eastern North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius 
robustus), 130 killer whales (Orcinus orca), 15 northern fur seals 
(Callorhinus ursinus), 25 California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus), 40 endangered fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), 150 
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from the endangered Western 
North Pacific DPS, threatened Mexico DPS, or Hawaii DPS, and two 
endangered North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonica). The permit 
would be valid for five years from 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: May 24, 2018.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-11640 Filed 5-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P