[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64247-64248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26288]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XZ51
Marine Mammals; File No. 15543
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 Randall S. Wells, PhD (Principal
Investigator), Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine
Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, has applied
in due form for a permit to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins
(Tursiops truncatus).
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before November 18, 2010.
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, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File
No. 15543 from the list of available applications.
These documents are also available upon written request or by
appointment in the following office(s):
Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
[[Page 64248]]
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 713-2289; fax (301) 713-
0376; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg,
Florida 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
Written comments on this application should be submitted to the
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the address
listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-
0376, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Please include the
File No. in the subject line of the e-mail comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division at the address listed above. The request should set forth the
specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be
appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Morse or Carrie Hubard, (301)
713-2289.
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.), and the regulations governing the
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
The applicant requests a five-year permit to take bottlenose
dolphins for scientific research. Annually, up to 15,000 individuals
would be approached for photo-identification and behavioral studies and
100 dolphins would be remotely biopsy sampled. Fifty dolphins a year
would be captured, examined, sampled, tagged, marked, and released for
health assessment studies. Research would occur in the shallow coastal
waters of west Florida out to 50 nm offshore, with a focus along the
central west coast, from Clearwater southward to Fort Myers, including
Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay, Lemon Bay, Gasparilla Sound, Charlotte Harbor,
and Pine Island Sound. Females with calves less than one year old would
not be captured. The research would provide crucial background
information on individual identification, sex, age, reproductive
status, and genetic relationships to support long-term observational
studies of population structure, population dynamics, life history,
social structure, genetic structure including paternity patterns, and
human interactions. The sampling and tagging would support studies of
contaminant loads and associated medical effects, immune system
function, effects of harmful algae, nutritional status, feeding
behavior, ranging patterns, studies of whistle development and
function, measures of hearing ability, and behavior associated with
sound production. Research would also include assessments of oil spill
impacts at individual and population levels.
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: October 13, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-26288 Filed 10-18-10; 8:45 am]
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