[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 42 (Friday, March 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12926-12927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04562]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA914]


Marine Mammals; File No. 25498

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 Titan Productions, Limited, 51-55 
Whiteladies Road Bristol, BS8 2LY, United Kingdom (Responsible Party: 
Lucy Meadows), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
commercial or educational photography of California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus), gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), and killer whales 
(Orcinus orca).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 5, 2021.

ADDRESSES: These documents are 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. 25498 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: Amy Hapeman 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) and the Fur Seal Act 
of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The applicant proposes to film the natural behaviors of California 
sea lions, gray whales, and killer whales as part of a wildlife 
documentary about the marine life along the Pacific Coast. Filmmakers 
would annually target up to 910 California sea lions in California, 408 
gray whales in California, 1,200 killer whales in Alaska, and 405 
killer whales in California. Filming would occur topside from the 
vessel, underwater, and via an unmanned aircraft system. Up to 200 
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 75 Dall's porpoise 
(Phocoenoides dalli), 60 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), 200 short-
beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), 200 long-beaked common 
dolphins (Delphinus capensis), 60 Northern fur seals (Callorhinus 
ursinus), 250 Pacific white-side dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), 
and 200 Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) could be unintentionally 
harassed annually during filming. The film will be part of a 10-episode 
natural history television series broadcast on a major subscription 
video on demand platform and will be accessible to audiences worldwide. 
To allow for scheduling changes, the permit would be valid until 
December 31, 2022.
    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,

[[Page 12927]]

NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine Mammal 
Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: March 1, 2021.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-04562 Filed 3-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P