[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 16588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06455]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA964]


Marine Mammals; File No. 23896

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 Aleut Community of St. Paul 
Island, Tribal Government Ecosystem Conservation Office, 2050 Venia 
Minor Road, St. Paul Island, AK 99660 (Responsible Party: Lauren 
Divine, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
research on northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 29, 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. 23896 from the list of available applications. 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. 23896 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 Shasta McClenahan, 
Ph.D., (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 Aleut Community of St. Paul Island proposes to conduct research 
on northern fur seals to fulfill their responsibilities as established 
under the co-management agreements between NMFS and the Aleut 
Communities on St. Paul Island, Alaska. All activities are organized 
into five projects: (1) Assessing and monitoring the marine mammal 
population; (2) Assessing disturbance using VHF; (3) Assessing habitat 
use; (4) Salvage of parts for a biosampling program; and (5) Studying 
entanglement rates of northern fur seals. The applicant requests to 
take up to 600 northern fur seals annually by capture and handling. 
Procedures to be performed on handled animals include mark (flipper 
tag), VHF tags, measure, restrain, and weighing. The applicant requests 
to take up to 400 northern fur seals annually through salvage of parts. 
Up to 35,000 northern fur seals may be taken annually by harassment 
during ground surveys, unmanned aircraft systems surveys, observation, 
photograph/video, as well as one unintentional mortality, including 
humane euthanasia if necessary. Up to 2,330 Steller sea lions 
(Eumetopias jubatus) may be harassed annually for the proposed 
projects, including 100 during salvage of parts. Up to 610 harbor seals 
(Phoca vitulina) may be harassed annually, including 50 during salvage 
of parts. An unlimited number of samples may be salvaged from stranded 
marine mammals including up to ten unidentified cetaceans and up to ten 
unidentified pinnipeds annually. Parts salvaged from all marine mammal 
species described here may be imported or exported. The permit would be 
valid for five years.
    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: March 24, 2021.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-06455 Filed 3-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P