[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5420-5421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01826]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA165


Marine Mammals; File No. 15510

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a major amendment to Permit No. 
15510 has been issued to Jennifer Burns, Ph.D., University of Alaska 
Anchorage, CPISB 202C, 3101 Science Circle, Anchorage, AK 99508.

ADDRESSES: The permit amendment and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosa L. Gonz[aacute]lez or Amy Sloan, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 8, 2015, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (80 FR 76276) that a request for an amendment 
Permit No. 15510 to collect, receive, import, and export specimens from 
marine mammals for scientific research had been submitted by the above-
named applicant. The requested permit amendment 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.), 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 original permit (No. 15510), issued on April 25, 2011 (76 FR 
25308) authorized Dr. Burns to obtain samples from up to 50 animals of 
each of the following species: Harp (Pagophilus

[[Page 5421]]

groenlandica), hooded (Cystophora cristata), gray (Halichoerus grypus), 
bearded (Erignathus barbatus), ringed (Phoca hispida), harbor (Phoca 
vitulina), spotted (Phoca largha), and ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata) 
seals; and to obtain samples annually from up to 6 captive Northern fur 
seals, Callorhinus ursinus; and 6 captive Steller Sea lions, Eumetopias 
jubatus, through April 30, 2016.
    Permit 15510-01 authorizes the Permit Holder to increase the number 
of harbor seals from which samples may be collected, received, 
imported, and exported from 50 to 100 annually; and, extends the 
duration of the permit through April 30, 2017.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    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: January 27, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-01826 Filed 2-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P