Marine Mammals and Endangered Species

Issuing agencies

Abstract

Notice is hereby given that permits have been issued under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as applicable.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 54311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17150]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XF902]


Marine Mammals and Endangered Species

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits have been issued under the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA), as applicable.

ADDRESSES: The permits and related documents are available for review 
upon written request via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9cd2d1dacfb2cceeaddff3f1f1f9f2e8efdcf2f3fdfdb2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b8f6f5feeb96e8ca89fbd7d5d5ddd6cccbf8d6d7d9d996dfd7ce">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Young (File Nos. 29313 and 29621) 
and Amy Hapeman (File No. 29749); at (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested permits have been issued under 
the MMPA 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 ESA 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), as 
applicable. Notices were published in the Federal Register on the dates 
listed below that requests had been submitted. To locate the Federal 
Register notice that announced our receipt of the application and a 
complete description of the activities, go to <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov">https://www.federalregister.gov</a> and search for the file number provided in 
table 1 below.

                                             Table 1--Issued Permits
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                                                                      Previous Federal
      File No.                RTID                 Applicant           Register notice        Issuance date
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29313..............  0648-XF554...........  Michelle Shero, Ph.D.,   91 FR 13294, March  July 1, 2026.
                                             Woods Hole               19, 2026.
                                             Oceanographic
                                             Institution, 266 Woods
                                             Hole Road, Woods Hole,
                                             MA 02543.
29621..............  0648-XF774...........  NMFS Marine Mammal       91 FR 29118, May    July 9, 2026.
                                             Laboratory, 7600 Sand    19, 2026.
                                             Point Way NE, Seattle,
                                             WA 98118 (Responsible
                                             Party: Nancy Friday,
                                             Ph.D.).
29749..............  0648-XF823...........  BBC Natural History      91 FR 32009, May    July 10, 2026.
                                             Unit and Factual         29, 2026.
                                             Productions Limited, 1
                                             Television Centre, 101
                                             Wood Lane, London, W12
                                             7FA, United Kingdom
                                             (Responsible Party:
                                             Victoria Webb).
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    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    As required by the ESA, as applicable, issuance was based on a 
finding that such permits: (1) were applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) are 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: August 19, 2026.
Larissa Plants,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-17150 Filed 8-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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