Notice2023-03365
Marine Mammals; File No. 27099
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
February 17, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that the Pacific Whale Foundation (Responsible Party: Jens Curie), 300 Ma'alaea Rd. Ste. 211, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on 22 species of cetaceans within waters of the Hawaiian Islands.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10294-10295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03365]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC782]
Marine Mammals; File No. 27099
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 the Pacific Whale Foundation
(Responsible Party: Jens Curie), 300 Ma'alaea Rd. Ste. 211, Wailuku,
Hawaii 96793, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research
on 22 species of cetaceans within waters of the Hawaiian Islands.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before March 20, 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, <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov</a>, and then selecting File
No. 27099 from the list of available applications. These documents are
also available upon written request via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#347a7972671a644605775b5959515a4047745a5b55551a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8cc2c1cadfa2dcfebdcfe3e1e1e9e2f8ffcce2e3ededa2ebe3fa">[email protected]</span></a>.
Written comments on this application should be submitted via email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#723c3f34215c220043311d1f1f171c0601321c1d13135c151d04"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="46080b00156816347705292b2b23283235062829272768212930">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include File No. 27099 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#fdb3b0bbaed3ad8fccbe9290909893898ebd93929c9cd39a928b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="17595a51443947652654787a7a72796364577978767639707861">[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: Courtney Smith, Ph.D., or Erin Markin,
Ph.D., (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.), and the
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
The applicant proposes to harass up to 1200 of the following
cetaceans species, annually, during vessel, underwater, and Unoccupied
Aerial Systems (UAS) surveys within waters of the Main Hawaiian
Islands: Blainville's beaked (Mesoplodon densirostris), Bryde's
(Balaenoptera brydei), Cuvier's beaked (Ziphius cavirostris), dwarf
sperm (Kogia sima), false killer (Pseudorca crassidens; including the
endangered Main Hawaiian Islands insular Distinct Population Segment),
fin (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), killer
(Orcinus orca), melon-headed (Peponocephala electra), minke
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata), pygmy killer (Feresa attenuata), pygmy
sperm (Kogia breviceps), short-finned pilot (Globicephala
macrorhynchus), and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) whales; and common
bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus), Fraser's (Lagenodelphis hosei),
pantropical spotted (Stenella attenuata), Risso's (Grampus griseus),
rough-toothed (Steno bredanensis), short-beaked common (Delphinus
delphis), spinner (Stenella longistrostris longirostris), and striped
(Stenella coeruleoalba) dolphins. The objective of research is to
assess the human impacts on, and the distribution, abundance, social
organization, population structure, population size, foraging, diet,
reproduction, movements, habitat use, body condition, health, and
behavior of Hawaiian cetaceans. Proposed research procedures include
photo-ID, photogrammetry, underwater filming, suction-cup tagging,
biopsy collection, fecal sampling, sloughed skin collection, and
exhaled air sample collection. Up to 10 suction-cup tags and up to 40
biopsy samples may be taken from the above listed species. The permit
would be valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.
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.
[[Page 10295]]
Dated: February 13, 2023.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-03365 Filed 2-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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