[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 241 (Friday, December 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 77077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27343]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC603]


Marine Mammals; File No. 23644

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 Iain Kerr, D.H.L., Ocean Alliance, 
32 Horton Street, Gloucester, MA 01930, has applied for an amendment to 
Scientific Research Permit No. 23644-01.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before January 17, 2023.

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. 23644 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. 23644-02 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: Amy Hapeman or Shasta McClenahan, 
(301)427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 23644-01 
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).
    Permit No. 23644, issued on October 26, 2020 (85 FR 73263, November 
17, 2020), authorizes the permit holder to conduct research on 22 
cetacean species in U.S. and international waters of the North Atlantic 
and North Pacific Oceans to study cetacean toxicology, microplastics, 
acoustics, and behavioral ecology. Researchers may conduct vessel 
surveys including unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations, biological 
sampling, counts, passive acoustics, photo-ID, photograph/video, 
observations, photogrammetry, and thermal imaging. Cetaceans also may 
be unintentionally harassed during surveys. Samples collected on the 
high seas or under other authorizations worldwide may be imported for 
study. The permit was amended on January 27, 2022 (as No. 23644-01), to 
authorize additional UAS models and UAS operations at night. For the 
current amendment, the permit holder requests to add suction-cup 
tagging by UAS for up to 30 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) 
each in North Atlantic and North Pacific waters and 30 minke whales 
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in North Atlantic waters as part of their 
behavioral ecology studies. The amendment would be valid for the 
duration of the permit, until October 31, 2025.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: December 13, 2022.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-27343 Filed 12-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P