[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 1428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-00861]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG516


Marine Mammals; File No. 22141

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 Samuel Wasser, Ph.D., University 
of Washington, Department of Biology, P.O. Box 351800, Seattle, WA, 
98195, 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 6, 2019.

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. 22141 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: Courtney Smith or Jennifer Skidmore, 
(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 cetaceans during vessel surveys 
within the inland waters of Washington to (1) improve the ability to 
temporally link the physiologic measures of killer whale nutritional 
stress with variation in prey abundance and toxicant levels, and (2) as 
a pilot study, gather fecal samples from baleen whales to establish a 
baseline for examining nutritional stress and toxin load as an 
indicator of ecosystem health. The primary target species are Southern 
Resident and transient killer whales (Orcinus orca), but additional 
cetaceans may include fin (Balaenoptera physalus), gray (Eschrichtius 
robustus), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), and minke (B. 
acutorostrata) whales. Research activities would include behavioral 
observations, photo-identification, fecal/scat collection, and 
incidental harassment. Please see the take table for complete list of 
take numbers by species. The permit would be valid for five years.
    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.

Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-00861 Filed 2-1-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P