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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 23 (Friday, February 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8342-8343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02431]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA851]

Marine Mammals; File No. 25462

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 America Films, Ltd., Embassy 
House, Queens Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1SB, United Kingdom, (Responsible 
Party: Tom Stephens), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
commercial or educational photography on gray whales (Eschrichtius 
robustus).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before March 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: These documents are available upon written request via email 
to [email protected].
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Please include File No. 25462 in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request via email to [email protected]. The request 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application 
would be appropriate.

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

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.), the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant proposes to film migrating gray whales in California 
waters for an episode of a television series celebrating the wildlife 
of North America. Filmmakers may target up to 204 whales in April 2021 
for filming topside from the vessel and from an unmanned aircraft 
system. Up to 68 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), 68 
harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii), 210 short-beaked common 
dolphins (Delphinus delphis), 210 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops 
truncatus), and 210 Pacific white-side dolphins (Lagenorhynchus 
obliquidens) could be incidentally harassed during filming. The project 
is scheduled for broadcast globally in 2022 on the

[[Page 8343]]

National Geographic Channel and streamed on the Disney+ platform. To 
allow for scheduling changes, the permit would be valid until May 31, 
2021.
    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: February 2, 2021.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-02431 Filed 2-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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