[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14612-14613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05446]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA941]


Marine Mammals; File No. 18786

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 the NMFS Office of Protected 
Resources, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program 
(Responsible Party: Teri Rowles, D.V.M., Ph.D.), 1315 East West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 has applied for an amendment to 
Scientific Research Permit No. 18786-05.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 16, 2021.

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. 18786 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. 18786 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, Ph.D. or Amy Sloan, 
(301)427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 18786-05 
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), and the Fur 
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 18786, issued on June 30, 2015 (80 FR 44939), authorizes 
the permit holder to: (1) Carry out response, rescue, rehabilitation 
and release of threatened and endangered marine mammals under NMFS 
jurisdiction (Cetacea and Pinnipedia (excluding walrus)), and 
disentanglement of all marine mammals under NMFS jurisdiction, pursuant 
to sections 109(h), 112(c), and Title IV of the MMPA; and, carry out 
such activities as enhancement pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the 
ESA; (2) Conduct health-related, bona fide scientific research studies 
on marine mammals and marine mammal parts under NMFS jurisdiction 
pursuant to sections 104(c) and Title IV of the MMPA and section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA, including research related to emergency 
response that may involve compromised animals, and research on healthy 
animals that have not been subject to emergency response (e.g., 
baseline health studies); (3) Conduct Level B harassment on all marine 
mammal species under NMFS jurisdiction incidental to MMHSRP activities 
in the U.S.; and (4) Collect, salvage, receive, possess, transfer, 
import, export, analyze, and curate marine mammal specimens under NMFS 
jurisdiction for purposes delineated in numbers (1) and (2) above. The 
permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to include 
authorization to extend the duration of the permit for 12 months 
through December 31, 2022.
    An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared for the original 
permit (No. 18786) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), to examine whether significant 
environmental impacts could result from issuance of the proposed 
scientific research permit. Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS 
determined that issuance of the permit would not significantly impact 
the quality of the human environment and that preparation of an 
environmental impact statement was not required. That determination is 
documented in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on 
June 29, 2015. The activities in this proposed amendment are consistent 
with the analyses in the original EA and no additional NEPA analysis is 
required for the issuance of this amendment. The original EA and FONSI 
are available upon request.
    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.


[[Page 14613]]


    Dated: March 11, 2021.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-05446 Filed 3-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P