Notice2023-05262
Marine Mammals; File No. 27066
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
March 15, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 (Responsible Party: Jon Hare), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15980-15981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05262]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC836]
Marine Mammals; File No. 27066
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
[[Page 15981]]
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Northeast Fisheries
Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543
(Responsible Party: Jon Hare), has applied in due form for a permit to
conduct research on marine mammals.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before April 14, 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. 27066 from the list of available applications. These documents are
also available upon written request via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#054b4843562b557734466a6868606b7176456b6a64642b626a73"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1957545f4a37496b285a7674747c776d6a5977767878377e766f">[email protected]</span></a>.
Written comments on this application should be submitted via email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e6063687d007e5c1f6d4143434b405a5d6e40414f4f00494158"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="531d1e15007d032162103c3e3e363d2720133d3c32327d343c25">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include File No. 27066 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#a5ebe8e3f68bf5d794e6cac8c8c0cbd1d6e5cbcac4c48bc2cad3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="014f4c47522f517330426e6c6c646f7572416f6e60602f666e77">[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 Carrie
Hubard, (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 requests a 5-year research permit to determine the
abundance, distribution, movement patterns, dive behavior, demographic
parameters, trends in recruitment, and stock structure of cetaceans in
U.S. waters of the western North Atlantic from Florida to Maine, and
Canadian waters in the Bay of Fundy and Scotian Shelf. Up to 38 species
of cetaceans may be taken during research including the following
endangered species: blue (Balaenoptera musculus), bowhead (Balaena
mysticetus), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), gray (Western North Pacific;
Eschrichtius robustus), North Atlantic right (Eubalaena glacialis), sei
(Balaenoptera borealis), and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) whales.
Research methods during vessel and aerial (manned and unmanned) surveys
will include counts, photo-identification, video recording,
photogrammetry, passive acoustic recording, observations, thermal
imaging, biological sampling (skin and blubber biopsy, sloughed skin,
feces, and exhaled air), and tagging (suction-cup and dart tags). Dart
tags may include short Type C tags that anchor in the blubber of large
whales. Receipt, import, and export of marine mammal parts would also
be authorized for research purposes. Four species of non-ESA listed
pinnipeds may be unintentional harassed and opportunistically studied
during cetacean research. See the application for complete numbers of
animals requested by species, life stage, and procedure.
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.
Dated: March 8, 2023.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-05262 Filed 3-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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