11730 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 37 / Friday, February 26, 2021 / Notices 

export and import of skin and blubber 

for the target species. Non-target seals 

and beluga whales may be 

unintentionally harassed, and seals may 

be incidentally captured during research 

activities. Up to three unintentional 

beluga mortalities may occur during 

captures over the duration of the permit. 

See the application for complete 

numbers of animals requested by 

species, life stage, and procedure. The 

permit is requested for 5 years. 

File No. 24378: The University of 

Alaska Southeast, 1332 Seward Ave, 

Sitka, AK 99835 (Responsible Party: Jan 

Straley) proposes to conduct research on 

18 species of cetaceans in Alaska, 

focusing on three species of large 

whales. The objective of the research is 

to further the biological understanding 

of Alaskan cetaceans by evaluating 

species abundance, population and 

stock structure, life history parameters, 

foraging behavior and prey 

specialization, social behavior, seasonal 

movements and migrations, and 

depredation interactions with longline 

fishing vessels. Research methods 

include close approach by vessels and 

UAS to conduct photo-identification, 

behavioral observations, underwater 

photography/video, active acoustic 

sonar for prey mapping, tagging 

(suction-cup and dart/barb), biological 

sampling (prey samples, exhaled air, 

sloughed skin, feces), and collection of 

water samples for environmental DNA 

(eDNA). Some marine mammal parts 

may be exported for analysis. See the 

application for complete numbers of 

animals requested by species, life stage, 

and procedure. The permit is requested 

for 5 years. 

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 

proposed activities are 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 23, 2021. 

Amy Sloan, 

Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–04055 Filed 2–25–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XA878] 

Marine Mammals; File No. 24365 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., University of 

California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 

92093–0204, has applied in due form for 

a permit to conduct research on 

California sea lions (Zalophus 

californianus). 

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email 

comments must be received on or before 

March 29, 2021. 

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. 24365 from the list of 

available applications. These documents 

are also available upon written request 

via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@

noaa.gov. 

Written comments on this application 

should be submitted via email to 

NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please 

include File No. 24365 in the subject 

line of the email comment. 

Those individuals requesting a public 

hearing should submit a written request 

via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@

noaa.gov. The request should set forth 

the specific reasons why a hearing on 

this application would be appropriate. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara 

Young or Dr. Shasta McClenahan, (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.) and the 

regulations governing the taking and 

importing of marine mammals (50 CFR 

part 216). 

The purpose of this research is to 

determine the role of physiological 

responses, oxygen store depletion, and 

eventual anaerobic metabolism in dive 

behavior and foraging ecology of 

California sea lions. On an annual basis, 

up to 15 adult females will be captured 

and instrumented to measure 

physiological responses (heart rate, 

stroke rate, oxygen depletion, 

temperature, inspired lung volumes and 

lactate accumulation) during dives. Two 

unintentional mortalities are requested 

annually. Up to 15 pups of the adult 

females used in the research, may also 

be marked with a neoprene patch. Take 

activities for adult animals include: 

Capture, restraint, anesthesia, internal 

and external instrumentation, blood 

sampling, flipper tagging, clipping 

vibrissae, and weighing, as well as 

necropsy and salvage of parts from any 

unintentional mortalities. Research will 

be conducted on San Nicolas Island, 

California. Re-captures for instrument 

removal will occur on San Nicolas 

Island. Takes of other species annually 

may include temporary disturbance of 

100 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), 200 

northern elephant seals (Mirounga 

angustirostris), 4,000 California sea 

lions (Zalophus californianus), and 30 

northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) 

during captures. The permit would be 

valid for five years. 

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 22, 2021. 

Amy Sloan, 

Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03980 Filed 2–25–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XA893] 

Marine Mammals; File No. 24395 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Lorrie Rea, Ph.D., University of Alaska 

Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop ELIF Suite 

240, Fairbanks, AK 99775, has applied 

in due form for a permit to receive, 

import, and export pinniped parts for 

scientific research. 


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