[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23571-23572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10175]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA395
Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File Nos. 15415 and 14622
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 NMFS has issued two permits to
conduct research on marine mammals or sea turtles. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for additional information regarding permittees.
ADDRESSES: The permits and related documents are available for review
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376;
Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA
01930; phone (978)281-9328; fax (978)281-9394; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL
33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The following Amy Hapeman or Kristy
Beard at (301)713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 10, 2010, notice was published
in the Federal Register (75 FR 76956) that a request for a permit to
conduct research on North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis)
had been submitted by Scott D. Kraus, Ph.D. [File No. 15415]. On March
4, 2010, notice was published in the Federal Register (75 FR 9868) that
a request for a permit to conduct research on green (Chelonia mydas),
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys
[[Page 23572]]
kempii), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles had been
submitted by Allen Foley [File No. 14622]. The requested permits have
been issued under the following authorities as applicable: 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 (ESA; 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). Scott Kraus, Ph.D. [File No. 15415], New England
Aquarium Edgerton Research Laboratory, Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110,
was issued a three-year permit to study North Atlantic right whales
along the U.S. East Coast from New York Harbor to the Maine-Canada
border. Dr. Kraus is authorized to conduct control and experimental
visual trials to determine if right whales are responsive to various
color and light characteristics. Dr. Kraus is authorized to closely
approach whales by vessel for photo-identification, observation, and
monitoring during trials. The research would seek to determine whether
the sensory and behavioral capabilities of right whales can be used to
avoid entanglements at depth and in conditions of poor visibility.
Allen Foley [File No. 14622], Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 370 Zoo
Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218, was issued a five-year permit to: (1)
Monitor the abundance of loggerhead and green sea turtles; (2)
characterize the aggregations of loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and
hawksbill sea turtles; and (3) determine the movements, behaviors,
habitat-use, and reproductive status of loggerhead sea turtles in
Florida Bay and the Everglades National Park. Researchers are
authorized to approach green sea turtles during non-linear transect
surveys and hand capture loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and hawksbill sea
turtles during capture-mark-recapture studies. Captured turtles would
be examined, measured, photographed, weighed, flipper tagged, passive
integrated transponder tagged, marked with paint, and blood sampled to
determine and monitor sex ratios, genetic identities, health and
reproductive status, growth, and subsequent movements and behaviors. A
subset of animals would receive: skin and carapace sampling, a
satellite transmitter attachment, ultrasound and/or laparoscopy and
organ sampling before release.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), environmental assessments (EAs) were prepared
analyzing the effects of the permitted activities on the human
environment. Based on the analyses in the EAs, NMFS determined that
issuance of the permits would not significantly impact the quality of
the human environment and that preparation of an environmental impact
statement was not required. That determination is documented in
Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for these actions.
As required by the ESA, issuance of the permits were 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: April 21, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-10175 Filed 4-26-11; 8:45 am]
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