[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 217 (Friday, November 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88736-88737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25998]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE454]


Marine Mammals; File No. 27552

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS' Pacific Islands Fisheries 
Science Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818 
(Responsible Party: Charles Littnan, Ph.D.), has applied in due form 
for a permit to conduct research and enhancement activities on Hawaiian 
monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 9, 2024.

[[Page 88737]]


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 
home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 
27552 from the list of available applications. These documents are also 
available upon written request via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c7898a8194e997b5f684a8aaaaa2a9b3b487a9a8a6a6e9a0a8b1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d59b989386fb85a7e496bab8b8b0bba1a695bbbab4b4fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#83cdcec5d0add3f1b2c0eceeeee6edf7f0c3edece2e2ade4ecf5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="47090a01146917357604282a2a22293334072928262669202831">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include File No. 27552 in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1957545f4a37496b285a7674747c776d6a5977767878377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7937343f2a57290b483a1614141c170d0a3917161818571e160f">[email protected]</span></a>. The request 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application 
would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Young or Shasta McClenahan, 
Ph.D., (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.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    The applicant requests a 5-year permit to carry out research and 
enhancement activities to recover the endangered Hawaiian monk seal 
along beaches and nearshore waters throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago 
(Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and main Hawaiian Islands) and Johnston 
Atoll.
    Research will identify impediments to recovery, inform the design 
of conservation interventions, and evaluate those measures. Research 
activities include visual and photographic monitoring, capture, 
tagging, pelage marking, health screening, foraging studies, deworming, 
necropsies, tissue sampling, behavioral modification, vocalization 
studies, and vaccination. Enhancement activities are designed to 
improve survival, reproductive success, and overall species' status. 
Enhancement activities include deworming, capture, translocation, 
hazing and removal of aggressive adult male seals, disentangling, 
dehooking, medical treatment, behavioral modification, vaccination, and 
supplemental feeding of post-release rehabilitated seals. Unintentional 
mortalities during research and enhancement activities are requested. 
Unintentional disturbance of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) 
and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) during research and 
enhancement activities is also requested. See the application for 
complete numbers of animals requested by species, age-class, and 
procedure. Pinniped parts may be collected, received, exported, and 
imported for analysis.
    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: November 5, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-25998 Filed 11-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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