Notice2022-16936
Marine Mammals; File No. 24359
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 8, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Office of Protected Resources, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP; Responsible Party: Sarah Wilkin), 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research and enhancement on marine mammals.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 151 (Monday, August 8, 2022)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 151 (Monday, August 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48159-48160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16936]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC245]
Marine Mammals; File No. 24359
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Office of Protected
Resources, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP;
Responsible Party: Sarah Wilkin), 1315 East West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct
research and enhancement on marine mammals.
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, <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov</a>, and then selecting File
No. 24359 from the list of available applications. These documents are
also available upon written request via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0f4142495c215f7d3e4c6062626a617b7c4f61606e6e21686079"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="efa1a2a9bcc1bf9ddeac8082828a819b9caf81808e8ec1888099">[email protected]</span></a>.
Written comments on this application should be submitted via email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3c72717a6f126c4e0d7f5351515952484f7c52535d5d125b534a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aae4e7ecf984fad89be9c5c7c7cfc4ded9eac4c5cbcb84cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include File No. 24359 in the
subject line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
written request via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#06484b40552856743745696b6b63687275466869676728616970"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="46080b00156816347705292b2b23283235062829272768212930">[email protected]</span></a>. 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
Sloan, (301) 427-8401.
[[Page 48160]]
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 MMHSRP requests a 5 year permit for activities including: (1)
emergency response involving but not limited to rescue, rehabilitation,
release, and entanglement response of threatened and endangered marine
mammals under NMFS jurisdiction; (2) conducting health-related, bona
fide scientific research and biomonitoring studies on marine mammals
and marine mammal parts under NMFS jurisdiction; (3) unintentionally
harassing non-target marine mammal species under NMFS jurisdiction
during MMHSRP activities; and (4) collecting, salvaging, receiving,
possessing, transferring, importing, exporting, analyzing, and curating
marine mammal parts under NMFS jurisdiction.
Procedures proposed to carry out the activities include, but are
not limited to: close approach via ground, vessel, and aerial surveys
(manned and unmanned); hazing and attractants; capture, restraint, and
handling; administration of drugs including anesthesia, medical
treatments, and vaccinations; attachment of scientific instruments;
marking (temporary and permanent including freeze- and hot-branding);
disentanglement and de-hooking; rehabilitation, transport, and release;
biological sampling and analyses; auditory evoked potential; active
acoustic playbacks and echosounders for prey mapping; import and
export; and unintentional harassment. Unintentional mortality,
including euthanasia for humane purposes, may occur during emergency
response and research activities including, but not limited to,
accidental drowning during captures, trampling due to flushing, and
vessel strike. See the application for take numbers requested by
species, life stage, and procedure.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NMFS is preparing a final Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to examine whether significant
environmental impacts could result from issuance of the proposed
scientific research permit. A draft of the PEIS was available for
public review and comment in 2021 (86 FR 26514; May 14, 2021 and
extended 86 FR 33705; June 25, 2021). The draft PEIS and information
about the PEIS is available on the following website: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/programmatic-environmental-impact-statement-mmhsrp">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/programmatic-environmental-impact-statement-mmhsrp</a>.
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. 2022-16936 Filed 8-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 8, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.