[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 151 (Monday, August 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48159-48160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16936]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC245]


Marine Mammals; File No. 24359

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 Office of Protected 
Resources, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP; 
Responsible Party: Sarah Wilkin), 1315 East West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
research and enhancement on marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before September 7, 2022.

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. 24359 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. 24359 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.

[[Page 48160]]


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.), 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.).
    The MMHSRP requests a 5 year permit for activities including: (1) 
emergency response involving but not limited to rescue, rehabilitation, 
release, and entanglement response of threatened and endangered marine 
mammals under NMFS jurisdiction; (2) conducting health-related, bona 
fide scientific research and biomonitoring studies on marine mammals 
and marine mammal parts under NMFS jurisdiction; (3) unintentionally 
harassing non-target marine mammal species under NMFS jurisdiction 
during MMHSRP activities; and (4) collecting, salvaging, receiving, 
possessing, transferring, importing, exporting, analyzing, and curating 
marine mammal parts under NMFS jurisdiction.
    Procedures proposed to carry out the activities include, but are 
not limited to: close approach via ground, vessel, and aerial surveys 
(manned and unmanned); hazing and attractants; capture, restraint, and 
handling; administration of drugs including anesthesia, medical 
treatments, and vaccinations; attachment of scientific instruments; 
marking (temporary and permanent including freeze- and hot-branding); 
disentanglement and de-hooking; rehabilitation, transport, and release; 
biological sampling and analyses; auditory evoked potential; active 
acoustic playbacks and echosounders for prey mapping; import and 
export; and unintentional harassment. Unintentional mortality, 
including euthanasia for humane purposes, may occur during emergency 
response and research activities including, but not limited to, 
accidental drowning during captures, trampling due to flushing, and 
vessel strike. See the application for take numbers requested by 
species, life stage, and procedure.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NMFS is preparing a final Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to examine whether significant 
environmental impacts could result from issuance of the proposed 
scientific research permit. A draft of the PEIS was available for 
public review and comment in 2021 (86 FR 26514; May 14, 2021 and 
extended 86 FR 33705; June 25, 2021). The draft PEIS and information 
about the PEIS is available on the following website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/programmatic-environmental-impact-statement-mmhsrp.
    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: August 3, 2022.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-16936 Filed 8-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P