62344 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 174 / Monday, September 11, 2023 / Notices 

Following NOAA’s review of the 

relevant information, it was determined 

that there are still significant threats to 

the area, and it is still an area of national 

significance. However, there is not 

currently demonstrated broad 

community support for the nomination 

remaining on the inventory of possible 

designations. ONMS has also 

determined that it is not clear, at this 

time, how a sanctuary designation 

would supplement or complement 

existing management and regulatory 

authorities for the Marianas Trench. 

Therefore, and in consideration of the 

nominating organization’s request to 

withdraw the nomination, the ONMS 

Director has determined the nomination 

for the Mariana Trench NMS should not 

remain on the inventory of successful 

nominations. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. 

John Armor, 

Director, Office of National Marine 

Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2023–19380 Filed 9–8–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD335] 

Marine Mammals; File No. 27426 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Oregon State University, Marine 

Mammal Institute, 2030 Marine Science 

Drive, Newport, OR 97365 (Responsible 

Party: Lisa Ballance, Ph.D.), has applied 

in due form for a permit to conduct 

research on marine mammals. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received on or before October 11, 2023. 

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. 27426 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. 27426 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: 

Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., or Amy 

Hapeman, (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 Endangered Species Act of 

1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 

et seq.), the regulations governing the 

taking, importing, and exporting of 

endangered and threatened species (50 

CFR parts 222–226), and the Fur Seal 

Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 

et seq.). 

The applicant requests a 5-year 

research permit to study abundance, 

density, distribution, movements, 

behavior, ecology, health, and stock 

structure of marine mammals in the 

Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. 

Research may occur in U.S. and 

international waters on 72 species of 

marine mammals, including the 

following ESA-listed cetaceans: blue 

(Balaenoptera musculus), bowhead 

(Balaena mysticetes), fin (Balaenoptera 

physalus), gray (Eschrichtius robustus; 

Western North Pacific distinct 

population segment [DPS]), humpback 

(Megaptera novaeangliae; Central 

America, Mexico, Western North 

Pacific, and Cape Verde DPSs), killer 

(Orcinus orca; Southern Resident DPS), 

North Pacific right (Eubalaena 

japonica), Rice’s (Balaenoptera ricei), 

sei (Balaenoptera borealis), Southern 

right (E. australis), and sperm (Physeter 

macrocephalus) whales. Research for 

cetaceans would include vessel and 

aerial surveys (manned and unmanned) 

for observations, photography, video 

recordings, thermal imaging, 

photogrammetry, passive acoustics, 

echosounders for prey mapping, 

biological sampling (exhaled air, 

sloughed skin, feces, and skin and 

blubber biopsy), and tagging (suctioncup, dart, and deep-implant). Eleven 

species of pinnipeds may be harassed 

and opportunistically studied during 

research including the following ESAlisted species: Steller sea lions 

(Eumetopias jubatus; Western DPS), and 

bearded (Erignathus barbatus), 

Guadalupe fur (Arctocephalus 

townsendi), Hawaiian monk 

(Neomonachus schauinslandi), ringed 

(Phoca hispida), and spotted (P. largha) 

seals. Parts from all species of cetaceans 

and pinnipeds (excluding walrus) 

collected under separate authorizations 

may be imported, exported, and 

received annually for scientific research, 

and secondarily used for curation and 

education. See the application for 

complete numbers of animals requested 

by species and procedure. 

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: September 5, 2023. 

Julia M. Harrison, 

Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, 

Office of Protected Resources, National 

Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–19455 Filed 9–8–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD328] 

Caribbean Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of a public virtual 

meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery 

Management Council’s (Council) 

Scientific and Statistical Committee 

(SSC) will hold a public virtual meeting 

to address the items contained in the 

tentative agenda included in the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

DATES: The SSC public virtual meeting 

will be held on September 27, 2023, 

from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Standard 

Time. 

ADDRESSES: You may join the SSC 

public virtual meeting (via Zoom) from 

a computer, tablet or smartphone by 

entering the following address: https:// 

us02web.zoom.us/j/81086075177?pwd=

TlBLb0NjWmZaR2h0b2NEbmpOTWti

QT09. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1