[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 4, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6146-6147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02110]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XR094]


Marine Mammals; Issuance of Permits

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that individuals and institutions have 
been issued Letters of Confirmation for activities conducted under the 
General Authorization for Scientific Research on marine mammals. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for a list of names and address of 
recipients.

ADDRESSES: The Letters of Confirmation and related documents are 
available for review upon written request or by appointment in the 
following office:
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Protected Resources, Permits 
and Conservation Division, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested Letters of Confirmation have 
been issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations 
governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). 
The General Authorization allows for bona fide scientific research that 
may result only in taking by Level B harassment of marine mammals. The 
following Letters of Confirmation (LOC) were issued in Fiscal Year 2019 
(October 1, 2018-September 30, 2019).

    File No. 21910: Issued to California Wildlife Center (Principal 
Investigator: Jennifer Brent), 26026 Pimma Road, Calabassas, CA 91302, 
on October 1, 2018, to obtain baseline data on marine mammal health and 
populations in remote areas of Malibu to better aid future studies on 
ocean stock health and to identify previously unreported cases of human 
interaction and previously tagged animal migration. This work 
specifically targets the U.S. stock of California sea lion (Zalophus 
californianus), the California breeding stock of northern elephant seal 
(Mirounga angustirostris), and the California stock of harbor seal 
(Phoca vitulina). The LOC expires on September 30, 2023.

    File No. 19826-03: Issued to Deanna Rees, Naval Undersea Warfare 
Center, Division Newport, 1176 Howell Street, Newport, RI 02841, on 
November 1, 2018, to conduct surveys of gray (Halichoerus grypus 
atlantica) (Western North Atlantic stock), harbor (Western North 
Atlantic stock), and harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus) (Western North 
Atlantic stock) seals in the northeast. The amended LOC adds aerial 
surveys of pinnipeds via vertical take-off and landing unmanned 
aircraft systems (UAS). The LOC expires on January 31, 2021.

    File No. 22198-01: Issued to Samuel Wasser, Ph.D., Center for 
Conservation Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, on 
November 21, 2018, extended the expiration date of the LOC for one 
year. Research activities include vessel surveys targeting killer 
whales (Orcinus orca, West Coast Transient stock) within the inland 
waters of Washington State. The objectives do not change from those 
previously authorized under LOC No. 22198. The amended LOC clarifies 
the expiration date relative to the effective date of new Permit No. 
22141 (84 FR 22111, May 16, 2019); the LOC subsequently expired on 
April 30, 2019.

    File No. 18218-03: Issued to Dolphin Research Center, (Principal 
Investigator: Armando Rodriguez), 58763 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, 
FL 33050, on November 29, 2018, extended the expiration date of the LOC 
for one year. The research includes close approach, photo-
identification, behavioral observations, passive acoustics, and focal 
follows of coastal and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) 
(Florida Bay Stock) in coastal waters of the middle Florida Keys. The 
objectives do not change from those previously authorized under LOC 
No.18218-02. The LOC was subsequently terminated on February 5, 2019, 
when a new LOC (No. 22587, see below) was issued to Dolphin Research 
Center.

    File No. 22081: Issued to Institute for Marine Mammal Studies 
(Principal Investigator: Mobashir Solangi, Ph.D.), P.O. Box 207, 
Gulfport, MS 39502, on December 3, 2018, to study cetaceans during 
vessel and aerial surveys using photo-identification, behavioral 
observations, photography, filming, and passive acoustic recordings. 
Research may occur from Lake Borgne, Louisiana to the Alabama/
Mississippi state line, including Mississippi, Chandeleur, and Breton 
Sounds and adjacent waters. The target species is bottlenose dolphins; 
however research would also occur if any of the following species were 
observed: Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis), pantropical 
spotted dolphin (S. attenuata), spinner dolphin (S. longirostris), and 
pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps). The LOC expires on December 1, 
2023.

    File No. 22587: Issued to Dolphin Research Center (Principal 
Investigator: Armando Rodriguez), 58763 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, 
FL 33050, on February 5, 2019 to continue vessel surveys for close 
approach, photo-identification, behavioral observations, passive 
acoustics, and focal follows of

[[Page 6147]]

bottlenose dolphins (Florida Bay Stock) in coastal waters of the middle 
Florida Keys. The objectives of the research are to estimate the 
distribution, residency, and movement patterns for bottlenose dolphins 
in the middle Florida Keys. The LOC expires on February 15, 2024.

    File No. 18605-01: Issued to Tara Cox, Ph.D., Savannah State 
University, P.O. Box 20467, Savannah, GA 31404, on February 14, 2019, 
extended the expiration date of the LOC for one year. The research 
includes close approach, photo-identification, behavioral observations, 
passive acoustics, and focal follows of coastal and offshore bottlenose 
dolphins, Atlantic and pantropical spotted dolphins, short-finned pilot 
whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), beaked whales (Family Ziphiidae), 
and Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) in estuarine and coastal waters 
of Georgia and South Carolina. The objectives do not change from those 
previously authorized under LOC No. 18605-01. The LOC was subsequently 
terminated on May 13, 2019, when a new LOC (File No. 22807) was issued 
to Dr. Cox.

    File No. 22725: Issued to the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network 
(Responsible Party: Heidi Whitehead), 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 
77351, on April 15, 2019, to conduct vessel surveys, observations and 
photo-identification of bottlenose dolphins in Texas waters. The 
objectives of the research are to determine abundance estimates, 
examine habitat-use and site fidelity, document human-related injuries 
and interactions, and study the behavior ecology of dolphin stocks 
found in Texas bays, sounds, and estuaries. The LOC expires on April 
30, 2024.

    File No. 22807: Issued to Tara Cox, Ph.D., Savannah State 
University, P.O. Box 20467, Savannah, GA 31404, on May 13, 2019, to 
conduct vessel surveys, behavioral observations, and photo-
identification of cetaceans in waters from the Georgia/South Carolina 
border south to Altamaha Sound. The objectives of the research are to 
continue a long-term study of the foraging ecology, social structure, 
and population ecology of bottlenose dolphins in the area. Atlantic 
spotted dolphins, short-finned pilot whales, beaked whales, and Risso's 
dolphins will be studied if encountered. The LOC expires on May 31, 
2024.

    File No. 22820: Issued to Danielle Brown, Rutgers University, 72 
Locust Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753, on May 30, 2019, to conduct 
vessel-based surveys of the West Indies Distinct Population segment of 
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) for counts, photo-
identification, photography, and observation in New Jersey waters. 
Bottlenose dolphins (Western North Atlantic Northern Migratory Coastal 
stock) and minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) may also be 
opportunistically encountered. The objectives of the research are to 
collect spatial and temporal data to understand species distribution, 
to identify distribution hotspots, and to establish a baseline for 
humpback whale behavior in the apex of the New York Bight. The LOC 
expires on May 31, 2024.

    File Nos. 18101-04 and 18101-05: Issued to Pacific Whale Foundation 
(Principal Investigator: Jens Currie), 300 Ma'alaea Road, Suite 211, 
Wailuku, HI 96793, on June 21, 2019, extended the expiration date of 
the LOC until August 14, 2019. The LOC was extended for an additional 
30 days on August 14, 2019, to expire on September 15, 2019. The 
objectives do not change from those authorized under LOC No. 18101-03. 
The research authorizes counts, photo-identification, behavioral 
observations, focal follows, underwater photography/videography, and 
photogrammetry of 15 species of cetaceans during vessel line transect 
surveys within the waters of Maui County, Hawaii. The objectives did 
not change from those previously authorized. LOC No. 18101-05 was 
subsequently terminated on August 27, 2019, when amended permit No. 
21321-01 was issued to Pacific Whale Foundation (84 FR 48600, September 
16, 2019).

    File No. 22856: Issued to Patricia Fair, Ph.D., South Carolina 
Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401, on July 22, 2019, 
to conduct vessel surveys, photo-identification, photogrammetry, and 
behavioral observations of bottlenose dolphins (Charleston Estuarine 
System stock). Research will occur in estuarine waters near Charleston, 
South Carolina, including Charleston Harbor and the Ashley, Cooper, and 
Wando Rivers. The objective of the research is to assess whether the 
Charleston Harbor Deepening Project will affect the distribution, 
abundance and behavior of dolphins in this area. The LOC expires on 
August 31, 2024.

    File No. 19826-04: Issued to Deanna Rees, Naval Undersea Warfare 
Center, Division Newport, 1176 Howell Street, Newport, RI 02841, on 
July 30, 2019, to conduct surveys of gray, harbor, and harp seals in 
the northeast U.S. The amended LOC adds additional UAS surveys, as well 
as the installation and use of remote cameras for monitoring. The LOC 
expires on January 31, 2021.

    File No. 20377-02: Issued to Wendy Noke Durden, Hubbs-Sea World 
Research Institute, 3830 South Highway A1A #4-181, Melbourne Beach, FL 
32951 on August 8, 2019, to conduct behavioral observations, passive 
acoustic recording, monitoring, photo-identification, photography, and 
video of bottlenose dolphins during vessel surveys. Research takes 
place in the inland waters of the Indian River Lagoon estuary to the 
Intracoastal Waters of the Halifax Rivers estuary. The amended LOC adds 
UAS as a tool to collect data. The objectives do not change from those 
previously authorized. The LOC expires on September 1, 2021.

    File No. 22813: Issued to Alejandro Acevedo-Guti[eacute]rrez, 
Ph.D., Western Washington University, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 
98225, on August 30, 2019, for observation/monitoring, videography, and 
scat collection during ground and UAS surveys of harbor seals 
(Washington Inland Waters stock) within inland waters of Washington 
State. The LOC expires on August 31, 2024.

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activities are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare 
an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: January 28, 2020.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-02110 Filed 2-3-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P