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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 14352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5809]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[File No. 15844]
RIN 0648-XB065

Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to 
Glacier Bay National Park and Reserve (Responsible Party: Susan 
Boudreau; Principal Investigator: Christine Gabriele), Gustavus, AK 
99826 to conduct research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), 
killer whales (Orcinus orca) and minke whales (Balaenoptera 
acutorostrata).

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joselyd Garcia-Reyes or Carrie Hubard, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 27, 2011, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (76 FR 30919) that a request for a permit to conduct 
research on humpback whales, killer whales, and minke whales had been 
submitted by the above-named applicant. The requested permit has been 
issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended (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 parts 222-226).
    Permit No. 15844 authorizes Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve 
to conduct passive acoustics, videography, photo-identification 
surveys, biopsy sampling, and collect sloughed skin and/or feces to 
study humpback whales, killer whales and minke whales. Research would 
occur around southeastern Alaska especially in Glacier Bay National 
Park and Preserve. Up to 6300 humpback whales, 500 killer whales, and 
20 minke whales could be harassed each year during photo-identification 
surveys. Additionally, humpback whales and the three killer whale 
ecotypes could be harassed up to 50 times each, to acquire 30 
successful biopsy samples, per year. The permit is valid through 
February 28, 2017.
    An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared analyzing the effects 
of the permitted activities on the human environment in compliance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined that issuance of the 
permit would not significantly impact the quality of the human 
environment and that preparation of an environmental impact statement 
was not required. That determination is documented in a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on February 24, 2012.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: March 5, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-5809 Filed 3-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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