[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22452-22453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10330]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG359
Marine Mammals; File No. 21482
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dan T. Engelhaupt, Ph.D., HDR,
Inc., 4173 Ewell Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, has applied in due
form for a permit to conduct scientific research on 83 species of
marine mammals.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before June 17, 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. 21482 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 Carrie Hubard,
(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.), the
regulations governing the
[[Page 22453]]
taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species
(50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16
U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
The applicant requests a five-year research permit to conduct
research that would further the understanding of marine mammal
responses to anthropogenic activities, while contributing to cetacean
and pinniped conservation by collecting critical baseline and exposure
data required to inform long-term management. Research may occur in
U.S. and international waters world-wide. Up to 83 species of marine
mammals may be targeted including the following endangered or
threatened species and stocks: Blue (Balaenoptera musculus), Bowhead
(Balaena mysticetus), beluga (Cook Inlet distinct population segment
[DPS]; Delphinapterus leucas), fin (B. physalus), gray (Western North
Pacific stock; Eschrichtius robustus), Gulf of Mexico Bryde's (B.
edeni), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), false killer (Main Hawaiian
Islands Insular DPS; Pseudorca crassidens), North Atlantic right
(Eubalaena glacialis), North Pacific right (E. japonica), sei (B.
borealis), Southern Resident killer (Orcinus orca), Southern right (E.
australis), and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) whales; and pinnipeds
including Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and bearded
(Erignathus barbatus), Guadalupe fur (Arctocephalus townsendi),
Hawaiian monk (Neomonachus schauinslandi), ringed (Phoca hispida), and
spotted (P. largha) seals. Marine mammals may be taken during
underwater, vessel, and manned and unmanned aerial surveys for
observation, photography, photo-ID, photogrammetry, video recording,
and passive acoustic recording. Targeted cetaceans may also be taken
for active acoustic playbacks, biological sampling (exhaled air, fecal,
sloughed skin, or skin and blubber biopsy), and tagging (suction-cup,
dart/barb, or fully-implantable). See the application for numbers of
animals requested by species and procedure.
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 14, 2019.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10330 Filed 5-16-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P