[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 1401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00294]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB718]


Marine Mammals and Endangered Species

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits and permit amendments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits and permit amendments have 
been issued to the following entities under the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as 
applicable.

ADDRESSES: The permits and related documents are available for review 
upon written request via email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore (Permit No. 25794), 
Sara Young (Permit No. 18059-01), and Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D. (Permit 
No. 18786-06); at (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notices were published in the Federal 
Register on the dates listed below that requests for a permit or permit 
amendment had been submitted by the below-named applicants. To locate 
the Federal Register notice that announced our receipt of the 
application and a complete description of the activities, go to 
www.federalregister.gov and search on the permit number provided in 
Table 1 below.

                                  Table 1--Issued Permits and Permit Amendments
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                                                                      Previous Federal
        Permit No.              RTID              Applicant            Register Notice         Issuance date
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18059-01.................      0648-XF085  David Wiley, Ph.D.,     82 FR 16998; April 7,   December 13, 2021.
                                            Stellwagen Bank         2017.
                                            National Marine
                                            Sanctuary, 175 Edward
                                            Foster Rd, Scituate,
                                            MA 02006.
18786-06.................      0648-XA941  NMFS Office of          86 FR 14612; March 17,  December 21, 2021.
                                            Protected Resources,    2021.
                                            Marine Mammal Health
                                            and Stranding
                                            Response Program,
                                            1315 East West
                                            Highway, Silver
                                            Spring, MD 20910
                                            (Responsible Party:
                                            Teri Rowles, D.V.M.,
                                            Ph.D.).
25794....................      0648-XB460  Jennifer Burns, Ph.D.,  86 FR 54940; October    December 13, 2021.
                                            Texas Tech              5, 2021.
                                            University, Biology
                                            Department, 2901 Main
                                            Street, Lubbock, TX
                                            79409.
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    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), for Permit Nos. 18059-01 (one year extension) 
and 25794, a final determination has been made that the activities 
proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an 
environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    For Permit No. 18786-06, 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.
    As required by the ESA, as applicable, issuance of these permit was 
based on a finding that such permits: (1) Were applied for in good 
faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered 
species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set 
forth in Section 2 of the ESA.
    Authority: The requested permits have been issued under the MMPA 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 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), as applicable.

    Dated: January 6, 2022.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-00294 Filed 1-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P