Notice2022-23508
Marine Mammal Protection Act; Receipt of Permit Applications
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
October 28, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that the Service has jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With some exceptions, the MMPA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The MMPA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the MMPA with respect to any endangered species or marine mammals.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 208 (Friday, October 28, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 208 (Friday, October 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65237-65238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23508]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2022-0054; FXIA16710900000-223-FF09A30000]
Marine Mammal Protection Act; Receipt of Permit Applications
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), invite the
public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with
foreign species that the Service has jurisdiction under the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With some exceptions, the MMPA prohibits
activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued
that allows such activities. The MMPA also requires that we invite
public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise
prohibited by the MMPA with respect to any endangered species or marine
mammals.
DATES: We must receive comments by November 28, 2022.
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: The application, application supporting
materials, and any comments and other
[[Page 65238]]
materials that we receive will be available for public inspection at
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> in Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2022-0054.
Submitting Comments: When submitting comments, please specify the
name of the applicant and the permit number at the beginning of your
comment. You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
<bullet> Internet: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Search for and
submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2022-0054.
<bullet> U.S. Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No.
FWS-HQ-IA-2022-0054; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS:
PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
For more information, see Public Comment Procedures under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda Tapia, by phone at 703-358-
2185, or via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cd89808c8b9f8dabbabee3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f7b3bab6b1a5b7918084d9909881">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals in the United States
who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability
may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications
relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the
relay services offered within their country to make international calls
to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Comment Procedures
A. How do I comment on submitted applications?
We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies
to comment on applications. Before issuing any requested permits, we
take into consideration any information that we receive during the
public comment period.
You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods in
ADDRESSES. We will not consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an
address not in ADDRESSES. We will not consider or include in our
administrative record comments we receive after the close of the
comment period (see DATES).
When submitting comments, please specify the name of the applicant
and the permit number at the beginning of your comment. Provide
sufficient information to allow us to authenticate any scientific or
commercial data you include. The comments and recommendations that will
be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are: (1) Those
supported by quantitative information or studies; and (2) those that
include citations to, and analyses of, the applicable laws and
regulations.
B. May I review comments submitted by others?
You may view and comment on others' public comments at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> unless our allowing so would violate the Privacy
Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) or Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).
C. Who will see my comments?
If you submit a comment at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, your entire
comment, including any personal identifying information, will be posted
on the website. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes personal
identifying information, such as your address, phone number, or email
address, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold
this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so. Moreover, all submissions from organizations
or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be
made available for public disclosure in their entirety.
II. Background
To help us carry out our conservation responsibilities for affected
species, and in consideration of section 104(c) of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), we
invite public comments on permit applications before final action is
taken. With some exceptions, MMPA prohibits certain activities with
listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such
activities. Service regulations regarding prohibited activities with
endangered species, captive-bred wildlife registrations, and permits
for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any
endangered species are available in title 50 of the Code of Federal
Regulations in part 17. Service regulations regarding permits for any
activity otherwise prohibited by the MMPA with respect to any marine
mammals are available in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations in
part 18. Concurrent with publishing this notice in the Federal
Register, we are forwarding copies of the marine mammal applications to
the Marine Mammal Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors
for their review.
III. Permit Applications
We invite comments on the following applications.
Applicant: USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK; Permit No. 067925
The applicant requests a permit to capture/recapture, transport,
immobilize, hold, administer drugs to, flipper tag, surgically implant
transmitters inside, measure, collect biological samples from, and
release northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in the wild for the
purpose of scientific research. This notification covers activities to
be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
Applicant: BBC Studios Productions Ltd, Bristol, UK; Permit No.
PER0036892
The applicant requests a permit to photograph (video and photos)
Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) in the wild at Round Island, AK, for
the purpose of commercial photography. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the applicant over a 5-year period.
IV. Next Steps
After the comment period closes, we will make decisions regarding
permit issuance. If we issue permits to the applicants listed in this
notice, we will publish a notice in the Federal Register. You may
locate the notice announcing the permit issuance by searching <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> for the permit number listed above in this
document. For example, to find information about the potential issuance
of Permit No. 12345A, you would go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> and search for
``12345A''.
V. Authority
We issue this notice under the authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and its
implementing regulations.
Brenda Tapia,
Supervisory Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits,
Division of Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 2022-23508 Filed 10-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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