Notice2026-04822
Marine Mammals; File No. 28671
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 12, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that Colleen Reichmuth, Ph.D., Long Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California at Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on five species of pinnipeds.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 12171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04822]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF586]
Marine Mammals; File No. 28671
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 Colleen Reichmuth, Ph.D., Long
Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of
California at Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, has
applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on five species of
pinnipeds.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 13, 2026.
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
home page, <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov</a>, and then selecting File No.
28671 from the list of available applications. These documents are also
available upon written request via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c52515a4f324c6e2d5f7371717972686f5c72737d7d327b736a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="66282b20354836145725090b0b03081215260809070748010910">[email protected]</span></a>.
Written comments on this application should be submitted via email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#256b6863760b755714664a4848404b5156654b4a44440b424a53"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a34373c29542a084b391517171f140e093a14151b1b541d150c">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include File No. 28671 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#fbb5b6bda8d5ab89cab89496969e958f88bb95949a9ad59c948d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="226c6f64710c725013614d4f4f474c5651624c4d43430c454d54">[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: Sara Young or Jennifer Skidmore, (301)
427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (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 (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 conduct comparative psychological and
physiological studies with five species of captive pinnipeds:
California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), harbor seals (Phoca
vitulina), spotted seals (Phoca largha), threatened Arctic distinct
population segment (DPS) of ringed seals (Pusa hispida), and threatened
Beringia DPS of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) at Long Marine
Laboratory (Santa Cruz, CA) and the Alaska SeaLife Center (Seward, AK).
Up to four individuals per species may be studied at any given time
over the duration of the permit.
During psychological assessments, pinnipeds may participate in
passive (observational) or active (operantly trained) behavioral tasks.
Individuals may be observed in a variety of settings, and stimulus
detection and discrimination tasks may be conducted on land or in
water. Stimuli are controlled cues that are used to evaluate species-
typical sensory and cognitive performance. Stimuli may be from any
sensory modality, though there is an emphasis on hearing so that
conservation issues related to ocean noise can be addressed. For
physiological assessments, the same individuals participate in routine
physical evaluations to improve understanding of general biology. This
includes longitudinal measurements of growth, nutrition, health,
metabolism, physiological capacities, and environmental tolerance.
Research procedures include: passive and acoustic recording, drug
and sedative administration, collection of molt, scat, and urine,
Evan's blue dye and serial blood samples, external and internal
instrumentation, flipper tagging, measuring, metabolic chamber or hood
studies, behavioral observations, photogrammetry, photography and
videography, flyovers from unmanned aircraft systems, restraint, hair
clipping, transport, ultrasound, underwater photography and
videography, and weighing. The application also includes a request for
the unintentional mortality of up to two pinnipeds total of any species
over the duration of the permit associated with research or transport
including humane euthanasia at discretion of attending vet for medical
purposes due to research, as well as necropsy and export of parts from
the animals. The applicant requests a 10-year permit.
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 6, 2026.
Shannon Bettridge,
Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-04822 Filed 3-11-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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