[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 5338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2066]



[[Page 5338]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA185


Marine Mammals; File No. 15274

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dan Salden, Ph.D., Hawaii Whale 
Research Foundation, 52 Cheshire Drive, Maryville, IL 62062, has 
applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on humpback whales 
(Megaptera novaeangliae).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before March 2, 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. 15274 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available 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;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249; and
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)944-2200; fax (808)973-2941.
    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#5e1013180d700e2c6f1d3133333b302a2d1e30313f3f70393128"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e1afaca7b2cfb193d0a28e8c8c848f9592a18f8e8080cf868e97">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include the 
File No. in the subject line of the e-mail 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: Joselyd Garcia-Reyes or Carrie Hubard, 
(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 permit to conduct passive acoustics, 
underwater photography and videography, photo-identification surveys, 
and to collect sloughed skin to study humpback whales, Hawaiian Insular 
false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), and non-ESA listed 
cetaceans around the waters of Hawaii, primarily Kona Coast and Maui 
County near-Lanai waters, Kalohi Channel, and Pailolo Channel. Research 
would also occur in Southeast Alaska and Kachemak Bay area when 
platforms become available. Up to 3000 humpback whales and 150 Hawaiian 
Insular false killer whales could be harassed each year during photo-
identification surveys. Additionally, false killer whales, killer 
whales (Orcinus orca), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala 
macrorhynchus), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), spinner 
dolphins (Stenella longirostris), and pantropical spotted dolphins 
(Stenella attenuata) may be harassed. See the application for specific 
take numbers by species. The purposes of the proposed research are to: 
(1) Continue and expand a study of humpback whales, (2) examine the 
role and function of competitive groups as they relate to the mating 
system of humpback whales, (3) study the life histories of known 
individual humpback whales, and (4) opportunistically study the stock 
structure, life history parameters (reproductive rates, mortality, 
etc.) and abundance of other cetaceans. The permit would be valid for a 
period of five years.
    A draft environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared in 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), to examine whether significant environmental 
impacts could result from issuance of the proposed scientific research 
permit. The draft EA is available for review and comment simultaneous 
with the scientific research permit application.
    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: January 25, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-2066 Filed 1-28-11; 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>