[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30092-30093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13594]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE938


Marine Mammals; File No. 20430

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that James Harvey, Ph.D., Moss Landing 
Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039, 
has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 20430.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 26, 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 
home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 
20430 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 amendment to Permit No. 20430 is 
requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (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 (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).
    Permit No. 20430, issued on March 30, 2017 (82 FR 29053), 
authorizes the permit holder to conduct research on 12 species of 
marine mammals in California waters to study their distribution, 
movement, diet, foraging, and acoustic behaviors. Permitted research 
activities include passive acoustic recordings, behavioral 
observations, photography, photo-identification, videography, 
biological sampling (skin and blubber biopsy or sloughed skin), tagging 
(suction cup or dart/barb), and tracking. Additionally, a small number 
of non-target marine mammals may be incidentally harassed during 
research.
    The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to (1) 
authorize aerial surveys by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for 
photography, video recording, and photogrammetry for a new research 
objective to determine morphometric measurements to better understand 
reproductive health, growth rates, maneuverability, and energy 
capacity; (2) increase the number of takes for humpback whales 
(Megaptera novaeangliae) to 500 Level B

[[Page 30093]]

harassment takes, 50 suction-cup tags, and 35 dart/barb tags, annually, 
due to their increased presence in the research area; and (3) increase 
the number of incidental disturbance takes for California sea lions 
(Zalophus californianus) to 1,000 individuals, annually.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: June 21, 2019.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-13594 Filed 6-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P