18534 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2011 / Notices 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Tammy Adams or Laura Morse, (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 conduct scientific research on 

spotted (Phoca largha), ringed (Phoca 

hispida), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), 

and ribbon seals (Histriophoca fasciata) 

in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort 

seas of Alaska. The purpose of this 

research is to monitor the status and 

health of all four species by analyzing 

samples from the subsistence harvest 

and by documenting movements and 

habitat use by tracking animals with 

satellite transmitters. In addition to 

sampling harvested seals, the applicant 

would capture up to 200 individuals of 

each species per year. Captured seals 

would be measured and sampled (e.g., 

blood, blubber, skin, muscle, and 

whisker), and a subsample of these (120 

per year per species) will be fitted with 

transmitters. The applicant also requests 

permission to harass non-target seals of 

each species and authorization for a 

limited number of research-related 

mortalities. Results of these studies 

would be used to monitor the health 

and status of each of the four species’ 

populations, improve population 

assessments, and develop mitigation 

measures to minimize disturbance to 

these species that are important to the 

indigenous people of Alaska for 

subsistence food, materials, and for 

cultural significance. Samples would be 

imported from Russia, Canada, Svalbard 

(Norway) and exported to Canada for 

analyses. 

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 29, 2011. 

P. Michael Payne, 

Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–7956 Filed 4–1–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA339 

Marine Mammals; File No. 15271 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

James T. Harvey, Moss Landing Marine 

Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, 

Moss Landing, CA 95039 has been 

issued a permit to conduct research on 

blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (B. 

physalus), humpback (Megaptera 

novaeangliae), and gray (Eschrichtius 

robustus) whales. 

ADDRESSES: The permit 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; 

Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand 

Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, 

Seattle, WA 98115–0700; phone (206) 

526–6150; fax (206) 526–6426; and 

Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West 

Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, 

CA 90802–4213; phone (562) 980–4001; 

fax (562) 980–4018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kristy Beard or Amy Hapeman, (301) 

713–2289. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 

31, 2010, notice was published in the 

Federal Register (75 FR 53271) that a 

request for a permit to conduct research 

on the species identified above had been 

submitted by the above-named 

applicant. The requested permit has 

been issued 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 (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). 

The five-year permit authorizes 

research on large whale species off 

California, Oregon, and Washington; the 

primary research area is off the 

Southern California Bight, San Luis 

Obispo, Monterey Bay, and San 

Francisco. Researchers are authorized to 

approach whales for photoidentification and biopsy sampling. A 

subset of whales may be suction-cup 

tagged, dart-tagged, or tagged with small 

implantable tags. The permit also 

authorizes incidental harassment of 

California sea lions (Zalophus 

californianus), harbor seals (Phoca 

vitulina richardii), Pacific white-sided 

dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), 

Northern right whale dolphins 

(Lissodelphis borealis), harbor porpoise 

(Phocoena phocoena) and short-beaked 

common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). 

An environmental assessment (EA) 

was prepared analyzing the effects of 

the permitted activities on the human 

environment in compliance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Based on 

the analyses in the EA, NMFS 

determined that issuance of the permit 

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 a 

Finding of No Significant Impact 

(FONSI), signed on March 24, 2011. 

As required by the ESA, issuance of 

this permit was based on a finding that 

such permit: (1) Was applied for in good 

faith; (2) will not operate to the 

disadvantage of such endangered 

species; and (3) is consistent with the 

purposes and policies set forth in 

section 2 of the ESA. 

Dated: March 29, 2011. 

P. Michael Payne, 

Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–7954 Filed 4–1–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA344 

Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 


Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2011 / Notices 18535 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The review panel (Panel) for 

assessment methods for data-poor 

species will hold a work session that is 

open to the public. 

DATES: The Review of Assessment 

Methods for Data-Poor Species will be 

held beginning at 8 a.m., Monday, April 

25, 2011 and end at 5:30 p.m. or as 

necessary to complete business for the 

day. The Panel will reconvene on 

Tuesday, April 26 and will continue 

through Friday, April 29, 2011 

beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 5:30 

p.m. each day, or as necessary to 

complete business. The Panel will 

adjourn on Friday, April 29, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: The Review of Assessment 

Methods for Data-Poor Species will be 

held at the Santa Cruz Laboratory of the 

NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science 

Center, 110 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, 

CA 95060; telephone: (831) 420–3900. 

Council address: Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Pacific Council), 

7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, 

Portland, OR 97220–1384. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Stacey Miller, NMFS Northwest 

Fisheries Science Center; telephone: 

(541) 961–8475; or Mr. John DeVore, 

Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

telephone: (503) 820–2280. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

purpose of the Review of Assessment 

Methods for Data-Poor Species is to 

review assessment methods for use on 

data-poor or data-limited stocks in the 

Pacific Council’s Groundfish Fishery 

Management Plan (FMP) and provide a 

list of endorsed methods to the Pacific 

Fishery Management Council. Stock 

assessment methods including 

Depletion-Corrected Average Catch 

(DCAC) and Depletion-Based Stock 

Reduction Analysis (DB–SRA) will be 

reviewed at the meeting. Several 

developments of these methods have 

been proposed, which could raise stocks 

from Category 3 (catch-based only) to 

Category 2 in the Groundfish FMP tier 

system. Category 2 stocks are those 

where a basic assessment model is fit to 

trend information. 

No management actions will be 

decided by the Panel. The Panel’s role 

will be development of 

recommendations and reports for 

consideration by the Pacific Council at 

its June meeting in Spokane, WA. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in the meeting agenda may 

come before the Panel participants for 

discussion, those issues may not be the 

subject of formal Review Panel action 

during this meeting. Panel action will be 

restricted to those issues specifically 

listed in this notice and any issues 

arising after publication of this notice 

that require emergency action under 

Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act, provided the public has been 

notified of the Panel participants’ intent 

to take final action to address the 

emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

This meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. 

Kris Kleinschmidt at (503) 820–2280 at 

least 5 days prior to the meeting date. 

Dated: March 30, 2011. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–7913 Filed 4–1–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA332 

General Advisory Committee and 

Scientific Advisory Subcommittee to 

the U.S. Section to the Inter-American 

Tropical Tuna Commission; Meeting 

Announcement 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: NMFS announces a meeting 

of the General Advisory Committee 

(GAC) to the U.S. Section to the InterAmerican Tropical Tuna Commission 

(IATTC) on May 26, 2011, and a meeting 

of the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee 

(SAS) on May 25, 2011. Meeting topics 

are provided under the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section of this notice. 

DATES: The meeting of the SAS will be 

held on May 25, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 5 

p.m. PDT (or until business is 

concluded), and the meeting of the GAC 

will be held on May 26, 2011, from 9 

a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT (or until business is 

concluded). 

ADDRESSES: Both meetings will be held 

in the Large Conference Room (Room 

370) at NMFS, Southwest Fisheries 

Science Center, 3333 North Torrey Pines 

Court, La Jolla, California, 92037–1023. 

Please notify Heidi Hermsmeyer prior to 

May 6, 2011, of your plans to attend 

either meeting, or interest in a 

teleconference option. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Heidi Hermsmeyer, Southwest Region, 

NMFS at Heidi.Hermsmeyer@noaa.gov, 

or at (562) 980–4036. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with the Tuna Conventions 

Act, as amended, the Department of 

State has appointed a General Advisory 

Committee (GAC) and a Scientific 

Advisory Subcommittee (SAS) to the 

U.S. Section to the IATTC. The U.S. 

Section consists of four U.S. 

Commissioners to the IATTC and a 

representative of the Deputy Assistant 

Secretary of State for Oceans and 

Fisheries. The GAC and SAS support 

the U.S. Section to the IATTC in an 

advisory capacity; in particular, they 

provide advice on the development of 

U.S. policies, positions, and negotiating 

tactics. NOAA Fisheries Southwest 

Regional office administers the GAC and 

SAS in cooperation with the 

Department of State. The next annual 

meeting of the IATTC is scheduled for 

June 29–July 8, 2011, in La Jolla, CA. 

For more information on this meeting, 

please visit the IATTC’s Web site: 

http://www.iattc.org/HomeENG.htm. 

Meeting Topics 

The SAS meeting topics will include, 

but are not limited to, the following: (1) 

Relevant stock status updates, including 

yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack, and albacore 

tunas; (2) updates on bycatch mitigation 

measures; (3) evaluation of the IATTC’s 

recommended conservation measures, 

U.S. proposals, and proposals from 

other IATTC members; (4) input to the 

GAC; and (5) other issues as they arise. 

The GAC meeting topics will include, 

but are not limited to, the following: (1) 

Relevant stock status updates, including 

yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack, and albacore 

tunas; (2) U.S. regulatory changes that 

could affect tuna fisheries in the eastern 

Pacific Ocean; (3) updates on 

international agreements that could 

affect the IATTC; (4) the upcoming 

meeting of the five tuna regional fishery 

management organizations (also known 

as Kobe III); (5) the status of U.S 

legislation to implement the Antigua 

Convention; (6) outcomes of the IATTC 

Capacity Working Group meeting; (7) 

input from the SAS; (8) input and 

advice from the GAC on issues that may 

arise at the upcoming 2011 IATTC 

meetings, including the IATTC’s 

recommended conservation measures, 

potential U.S. proposals, and potential 

proposals from other IATTC members; 

and (9) other issues as they arise. 

Special Accommodations 

The meeting location is physically 

accessible to people with disabilities. 

Requests for sign language 


Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES