[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23645-23646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08116]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC926]


Marine Mammals; File No. 26623

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 Erin Ashe, Ph.D., Oceans 
Initiative, 117 E Louisa St. #135, Seattle, Washington 98102, has 
applied in due form for a permit to conduct research or marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before May 18, 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. 26623 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. 26623 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: Courtney Smith, Ph.D. or Sara Young, 
(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), 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 applicant requests to take pinnipeds and cetaceans in the 
coastal and inland waters of Washington State during vessel and aerial 
(unmanned

[[Page 23646]]

aircraft system) based surveys for behavioral observations and 
monitoring, photo-identification, photography/video, prey sampling, 
fecal sampling, breath sampling, passive acoustic recording, and active 
acoustic playback/broadcasts (Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology in 
air and water; commercial pingers in-water). The species that may be 
targeted for some or all of the listed procedures include: Dall's 
(Phocoenoides dalli) and Harbor (Phocoena phocoena) porpoise; Dwarf 
sperm (Kogia sima); Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii); Cuvier's 
beaked (Ziphius cavirostris); Gray (Eschrichtius robustus; Eastern 
North Pacific Stock only), Humpback (Mexico and Hawaii Distinct 
Population Segments [DPS]), Killer (Orcinus orca; Eastern North Pacific 
Offshore, West Coast Transient stocks, and Southern Resident DPS), 
Minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and Short-finned pilot 
(Globicephala macrorhynchus) whales; Common short-beaked (Delphinus 
delphis); Northern right whale (Lissodelphis peronii), Pacific white-
sided (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens); Risso's (Grampus griseus), and 
Striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) dolphins; California (Zalophus 
californianus) and Steller (Eumetopias jubatus; U.S. Eastern stock) sea 
lions; and Harbor (Phoca vitulina), Northern elephant (Mirounga 
angustirostris), and Northern fur (Callorhinus ursinus) seals. Up to 
1,376 cetaceans and 1,380 pinnipeds may be taken annually (see Take 
Tables in application for details). The purpose of the research is to 
assess marine mammal conservation status, identify threats to survival 
and recovery, and implement effective mitigation measures to reduce 
anthropogenic stressors. Objectives will be met through: population 
status assessment using line transect and capture-recapture; evaluating 
consequences of sublethal stressors; assessment of marine mammal 
health; bycatch mitigation and other hazing techniques by testing the 
efficacy of low-amplitude noises that could reduce mortality in fishing 
gear and identify effective hazing techniques to mitigate marine 
mammal-fishery conflicts. The permit is requested for 5 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: April 12, 2023.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-08116 Filed 4-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P