[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78330-78331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25171]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD516]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., (Permit No. 
27155), Amy Hapeman (Permit No. 22156-05), and Jennifer Skidmore 
(Permit No. 27459); 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 https://www.federalregister.gov and search on the permit number provided in 
Table 1 below.

[[Page 78331]]



                                  Table 1--Issued Permits and Permit Amendments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Previous Federal
      Permit No.                 RTID                Applicant        Register notice         Issuance Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22156-05.............  0648-XC660.............  Douglas Nowacek,    88 FR 2070,         October 16, 2023.
                                                 Ph.D., Duke         January 12, 2023.
                                                 University Marine
                                                 Laboratory, 135
                                                 Duke Marine Lab
                                                 Road, Beaufort,
                                                 NC 28516.
27155................  0648-XD227.............  Jamie Lloyd-Smith,  88 FR 55017,        October 11, 2023.
                                                 Ph.D., University   August 14, 2023.
                                                 of California,
                                                 Los Angeles, 610
                                                 Charles East
                                                 Young Drive
                                                 South, Los
                                                 Angeles, CA 90095.
27459................  0648-XD322.............  Robin Trayler,      88 FR 60650,        October 23, 2023.
                                                 Ph.D., University   September 5, 2023.
                                                 of California,
                                                 Merced, 5200
                                                 North Lake Road,
                                                 Science and
                                                 Engineering 1,
                                                 283, Merced, CA
                                                 95343.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that 
the activities proposed for Permit Nos. 27155 and 27459 are 
categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental 
assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS).
    For Permit No. 22156-05, an EA was prepared analyzing the effects 
of the permitted activities on the human environment in compliance with 
NEPA. Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined that issuance of 
the permit amendment would not significantly impact the quality of the 
human environment and that preparation of an EIS was not required. That 
determination is documented in a Finding of No Significant Impact, 
signed on October 16, 2023.
    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: November 9, 2023.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25171 Filed 11-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P