[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 177 (Friday, September 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56220-56221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20060]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA468]


Marine Mammals; File No. 23858

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 the NMFS' Marine Mammal 
Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-6349 (Responsible 
Party: John Bengtson, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to 
conduct research on pinnipeds in Alaska.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before October 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by

[[Page 56221]]

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. 23858 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. 23858 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: Sara Young 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.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit for takes of bearded 
(Erignathus barbatus), harbor (Phoca vitulina), ribbon (Histriophoca 
fasciata), ringed (Phoca hispida), and spotted seals (Phoca largha) in 
the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, Arctic Ocean, and coastal regions 
of Alaska. The purposes of the research are to investigate the foraging 
ecology, population abundance and trends, population structure, habitat 
requirements, health, vital rates, and effects of natural and 
anthropogenic factors on these species. Annually, up to 150 of each 
ice-associated seal species (bearded, ribbon, ringed, and spotted) and 
up to 250 harbor seals may be captured, handled, and released for 
measurement of body condition, collection of tissue samples, deployment 
of telemetry devices, and other procedures as described in the 
application. An additional 3,000 of each ice associated seal species 
and 5,500 harbor seals may be incidentally harassed annually during 
capture activities or collection of feces and other samples from haul-
out substrate. Annual takes by harassment during aerial surveys (manned 
and unmanned) include 3,200 bearded, 6,000 harbor, 1,750 ribbon, 6,700 
ringed, and 4,500 spotted seals. Authorization is requested for up to 
15 unintentional mortalities of each species over the life of the 
permit, not to exceed 5 annually. Up to 500 Steller sea lions 
(Eumetopias jubatus) of the Eastern Distinct Population Segment may be 
taken annually by incidental harassment during harbor seal aerial 
surveys.
    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: September 8, 2020.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-20060 Filed 9-10-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P