[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57132-57133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15350]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE099]


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 or 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: Amy Hapeman (Permit No. 27973), 
Jennifer Skidmore (Permit No. 27408), Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D. (Permit 
No. 27503), Sara Young (Permit Nos. 22289-01 and 27499), Erin Markin, 
Ph.D. (Permit No. 26727-01), and Carrie Hubard (Permit No. 26593-01); 
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.

                                  Table 1--Issued Permits and Permit Amendments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Previous Federal
       Permit No.                  RTID                Applicant        Register Notice        Issuance date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22289-01...............  0648-XG913.............  Alaska Fisheries    84 FR 34371, July   June 21, 2019.
                                                   Science Center's    18, 2019.
                                                   Marine Mammal
                                                   Laboratory (MML),
                                                   7600 Sand Point
                                                   Way NE, Seattle,
                                                   WA 98115
                                                   (Responsible
                                                   Party: John
                                                   Bengtson).
26593-01...............  0648-XD551.............  Adam Pack, Ph.D.,   88 FR 82340,        June 24, 2024.
                                                   University of       November 24, 2023.
                                                   Hawaii at Hilo,
                                                   200 West Kawili
                                                   Street, Hilo, HI
                                                   96720.
26727-01...............  0648-XC758.............  Aaron Lynton, 986   88 FR 8408,         May 6, 2024.
                                                   Kupulau Drive,      February 9, 2023.
                                                   Kihei, HI 96853.
27408..................  0648-XD710.............  Alaska Sea Life     89 FR 8171,         June 17, 2024.
                                                   Center, P.O. Box    February 6, 2024.
                                                   1329, 301 Railway
                                                   Avenue, Seward,
                                                   AK 99664
                                                   (Responsible
                                                   Party: Wei Ying
                                                   Wong, Ph.D.).
27499..................  0648-XD710.............  Alaska Fisheries    89 FR 8171,         June 17, 2024.
                                                   Science Center's    February 6, 2024.
                                                   MML, 7600 Sand
                                                   Point Way NE,
                                                   Seattle, WA 98115
                                                   (Responsible
                                                   Party: John
                                                   Bengston).
27503..................  0648-XD710.............  Alaska Department   89 FR 8171,         June 17, 2024.
                                                   of Fish and Game,   February 6, 2024.
                                                   P.O. Box 25526,
                                                   Juneau, AK 99802
                                                   (Responsible
                                                   Party: Michael
                                                   Rehberg).
27973..................  0648-XD829.............  Texas A & M         89 FR 22127, March  June 6, 2024.
                                                   University-Corpus   29, 2024.
                                                   Christi, Tidal
                                                   Hall 231, Corpus
                                                   Christi, TX 78412
                                                   (Responsible
                                                   Party: Dara
                                                   Orbach, Ph.D.).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For permit Nos. 26593-01, 26727-01, and 27973, in compliance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
a final determination has been made that the activities proposed are 
categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental 
assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS).
    For Permit Nos. 22289-01, 27408, 27499, and 27503, a determination 
was made that the activities authorized are

[[Page 57133]]

consistent with the Preferred Alternative in the Final Programmatic EIS 
for Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research (NMFS 2007). A 
supplemental EA (NMFS 2014) was prepared for the addition of unmanned 
aerial surveys to the suite of research activities analyzed under the 
EIS and concluded that issuance of the permits would not have a 
significant adverse impact on the human environment. Environmental 
review memos were prepared to summarize these findings.
    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: July 8, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-15350 Filed 7-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P