Marine Mammals; File No. 26329

Issuing agencies

Abstract

Notice is hereby given that Brandon Southall, Ph.D., Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Suite 8, Aptos, CA 95076, has applied for an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 26329.

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]
[Pages 54311-54312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17153]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XF960]


Marine Mammals; File No. 26329

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Brandon Southall, Ph.D., Southall 
Environmental Associates, Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Suite 8, Aptos, CA 
95076, has applied for an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 
26329.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 21, 
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 
(APPS) home page, <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov</a>, and then selecting File 
No. 26329 mod #4 from the list of available applications. These 
documents are also available upon written request via email to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f5bbb8b3a6dba587c4b69a9898909b8186b59b9a9494db929a83"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="337d7e75601d634102705c5e5e565d4740735d5c52521d545c45">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#713f3c37225f210340321e1c1c141f0502311f1e10105f161e07"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0a44474c59245a783b496567676f647e794a64656b6b246d657c">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please include File No. 26329-01 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#226c6f64710c725013614d4f4f474c5651624c4d43430c454d54"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="86c8cbc0d5a8d6f4b7c5e9ebebe3e8f2f5c6e8e9e7e7a8e1e9f0">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. The request 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application 
would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Sara Young, (301) 427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 26329 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

[[Page 54312]]

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), and the Fur Seal Act of 
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 26329, issued on October 21, 2022 (87 FR 68133, November 
14, 2022), authorizes the permit holder to study behavioral responses 
of 17 cetacean species in California waters. Researchers seek to 
identify key characteristics of species-typical calling, diving, 
feeding, social, and movement behavior in cetaceans, and under what 
conditions and contexts these behaviors are affected by human noise 
disturbance. Researchers may approach cetaceans by vessel for 
observations, suction-cup tagging, collection of sloughed skin, 
acoustic playbacks, prey mapping, photo-identification, and 
unintentional harassment. Five pinniped species may be unintentionally 
harassed during fieldwork. The permit holder requests to amend the 
permit to consolidate and improve the management and reporting of 
fieldwork that currently occurs with collaborating scientists under 
several research permits as follows: (1) add suction-cup tagging and 
sloughed skin collection as procedures for six authorized odontocete 
species; (2) allow deployment of suction-cup tags by uncrewed aircraft 
system (UAS) in addition to attachment by pole; (3) authorize the use 
of a suction-cup tag unit that has a built-in echosounder; (3) 
authorize active acoustics for prey mapping for all authorized species; 
(4) authorize biopsy sampling for all cetacean species that could be 
tagged; (5) increase take numbers for multiple cetacean species for 
currently authorized methods in addition to new requested methods 
including: invasive (darb/barb or deep-implant) tagging and UAS surveys 
for counts, observations, photo-ID, photography/videography, and 
photogrammetry; and (6) update the personnel list and their roles. See 
the application's take table for details on take numbers and methods 
for each species. The permit would be valid until March 31, 2028.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: August 19, 2026.
Larissa Plants,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-17153 Filed 8-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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