[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 151 (Monday, August 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48157-48158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16955]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC250]


Marine Mammals; File No. 26622

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 Randall Wells, Ph.D., Chicago 
Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine 
Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, has applied 
in due form for a permit to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins 
(Tursiops truncatus) and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella 
frontalis).

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. 26622 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. 26622 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 
Hapeman, (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.), and the regulations governing the 
taking and

[[Page 48158]]

importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests a 5 year permit to continue conservation 
research on dolphins in Florida to study health, environmental 
contaminants, reproduction, population structure and dynamics, 
acoustics, bioenergetics, trophic patterns human interactions, 
telemetry, ranging patterns, and behavior. Up to 10,000 bottlenose 
dolphins and 1,000 spotted dolphins may be taken annually during vessel 
surveys, including an unmanned aircraft system, for counts, 
photography, photo-identification, photogrammetry, video recording, 
observations, acoustic playbacks, and passive acoustic recording. A 
subset of these animals may be remotely biopsy sampled, suction-cup 
tagged, or bolt/pin tagged annually. Up to 50 bottlenose and 25 spotted 
dolphins of the above animals may be captured annually for health 
assessments to include biological sampling, auditory brainstem response 
tests, metabolic rate studies, ultrasound, X-rays, marking, tagging, 
release, and tracking. Two unintentional mortalities of each dolphin 
species may occur due to capture over the life of the permit. 
Biological samples collected may be imported and exported annually for 
analysis. The following non-target species may be unintentionally 
harassed during research: green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill 
sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley sea turtle 
(Lepidochelys kempii), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), olive 
ridley sea turtle (L. olivacea), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys 
coriacea), smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), and gulf sturgeon 
(Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi).
    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: August 3, 2022.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-16955 Filed 8-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P