Notice2023-08116
Marine Mammals; File No. 26623
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
April 18, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that Erin Ashe, Ph.D., Oceans Initiative, 117 E Louisa St. #135, Seattle, Washington 98102, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research or marine mammals.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23645-23646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08116]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC926]
Marine Mammals; File No. 26623
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 Erin Ashe, Ph.D., Oceans
Initiative, 117 E Louisa St. #135, Seattle, Washington 98102, has
applied in due form for a permit to conduct research or marine mammals.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before May 18, 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. 26623 from the list of available applications. These documents are
also available upon written request via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d19f9c9782ff81a3e092bebcbcb4bfa5a291bfbeb0b0ffb6bea7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1b55565d48354b692a587476767e756f685b75747a7a357c746d">[email protected]</span></a>.
Written comments on this application should be submitted via email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e4aaa9a2b7cab496d5a78b8989818a9097a48a8b8585ca838b92"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f1112190c710f2d6e1c3032323a312b2c1f31303e3e71383029">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include File No. 26623 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#47090a01146917357604282a2a22293334072928262669202831"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="06484b40552856743745696b6b63687275466869676728616970">[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 Sara Young,
(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.), 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 applicant requests to take pinnipeds and cetaceans in the
coastal and inland waters of Washington State during vessel and aerial
(unmanned
[[Page 23646]]
aircraft system) based surveys for behavioral observations and
monitoring, photo-identification, photography/video, prey sampling,
fecal sampling, breath sampling, passive acoustic recording, and active
acoustic playback/broadcasts (Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology in
air and water; commercial pingers in-water). The species that may be
targeted for some or all of the listed procedures include: Dall's
(Phocoenoides dalli) and Harbor (Phocoena phocoena) porpoise; Dwarf
sperm (Kogia sima); Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii); Cuvier's
beaked (Ziphius cavirostris); Gray (Eschrichtius robustus; Eastern
North Pacific Stock only), Humpback (Mexico and Hawaii Distinct
Population Segments [DPS]), Killer (Orcinus orca; Eastern North Pacific
Offshore, West Coast Transient stocks, and Southern Resident DPS),
Minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and Short-finned pilot
(Globicephala macrorhynchus) whales; Common short-beaked (Delphinus
delphis); Northern right whale (Lissodelphis peronii), Pacific white-
sided (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens); Risso's (Grampus griseus), and
Striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) dolphins; California (Zalophus
californianus) and Steller (Eumetopias jubatus; U.S. Eastern stock) sea
lions; and Harbor (Phoca vitulina), Northern elephant (Mirounga
angustirostris), and Northern fur (Callorhinus ursinus) seals. Up to
1,376 cetaceans and 1,380 pinnipeds may be taken annually (see Take
Tables in application for details). The purpose of the research is to
assess marine mammal conservation status, identify threats to survival
and recovery, and implement effective mitigation measures to reduce
anthropogenic stressors. Objectives will be met through: population
status assessment using line transect and capture-recapture; evaluating
consequences of sublethal stressors; assessment of marine mammal
health; bycatch mitigation and other hazing techniques by testing the
efficacy of low-amplitude noises that could reduce mortality in fishing
gear and identify effective hazing techniques to mitigate marine
mammal-fishery conflicts. The permit is requested for 5 years.
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: April 12, 2023.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-08116 Filed 4-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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