[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 169 (Monday, August 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 53797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19080]



[[Page 53797]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA442]


Marine Mammals; File No. 21476

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 Lars Bejder, Ph.D., University of 
Hawaii at Manoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kaneohe, HI 96744, has applied 
for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 21476.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before September 30, 2020.

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. 21476 from the list of available applications. These documents are 
also available upon written request via email to 
[email protected].
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Please include File No. 21476 in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request via email to [email protected]. 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 amendment to Permit No. 21476 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 (ESA) 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. 21476, issued on August 27, 2019 (84 FR 48600; September 
16, 2019), authorizes the permit holder to conduct research on 32 
species of marine mammals including the following ESA-listed species: 
blue (Balaenoptera musculus), bowhead (Balaena mysticetus), fin (B. 
physalus), Hawaiian insular false killer (Pseudorca crassidens), 
humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), sei (B. borealis), sperm (Physeter 
macrocephalus), and Western North Pacific gray (Eschrichtius robustus) 
whales. Authorized research activities include unmanned aerial surveys 
and vessel surveys in U.S. and international waters of the Pacific 
Ocean near Hawaii, Alaska, and U.S. territories. Permitted research 
activities include photography and video recording (above water and 
underwater), photogrammetry, counts, passive acoustic recording, 
biological sampling (skin and blubber biopsy, sloughed skin, exhaled 
air, and feces), and suction-cup tagging.
    The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to: (1) 
Increase the permitted takes from 2,000 to 4,000 annually for Level B 
harassment activities for spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) in 
Hawaii; and (2) increase the number of suction-cup tagging takes from 
10 to 20 annually for humpback whale calves in Hawaii from the non-ESA-
listed Hawaii distinct population segment. No changes to the permitted 
objectives, methods, or locations are proposed. The permit expires on 
August 31, 2024.
    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: August 25, 2020.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-19080 Filed 8-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P