[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 236 (Thursday, December 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 76703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30983]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA078


Marine Mammals; File No. 15750

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that ABR, Inc. Environmental Research 
and Services, Fairbanks, AK, has applied in due form for a permit to 
conduct research on marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before January 10, 2011.

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. 15750 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 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301) 713-2289; fax (301) 713-0376; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249.
    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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5816151e0b76082a691b3735353d362c2b1836373939763f372e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="347a7972671a644605775b5959515a4047745a5b55551a535b42">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include the 
File No. in the subject line of the email 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: 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.), 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 222-226).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit to conduct aerial surveys 
in Iniskin, Illiamna, Chinitna, and Kamishak Bays to document seasonal 
distribution and abundance of marine mammals in western lower Cook 
Inlet, Alaska. The applicant requests permission for level B harassment 
of the following marine mammals annually: 1,000 Steller sea lions 
(Eumetopias jubatus), 250 beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), 34,400 
harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), 600 harbor porpoises (Phocoena 
phocoena), 150 Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli), 100 minke whales 
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata), 50 gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), 
100 killer whales (Orcinus orca), 15 northern fur seals (Callorhinus 
ursinus), 30 fin whales (B. physalus), and 125 humpback whales 
(Megaptera novaeangliae).
    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: December 3, 2010.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-30983 Filed 12-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>