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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 235 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72630-72631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28638]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA341

Marine Mammals; File No. 15324

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

ACTION: Notice of issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a major amendment to Permit No. 
15324 has been issued to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
(ADF&G), Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, AK (Responsible 
Party: Robert Small, Ph.D.).

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: Amy Sloan or Courtney Smith, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 4, 2014, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (79 FR 18890) that a request for an amendment 
Permit No. 15324 to conduct research on pinniped species in Alaska 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.), and the regulations governing the taking, 
importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 
parts 222-226).
    Permit No. 15324-01 authorizes the permit holder to take spotted 
(Phoca largha), ringed (Phoca hispida), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), 
and ribbon seals (Histriophoca fasciata) in the Bering, Chukchi, and 
Beaufort seas of Alaska to monitor the status and health of each 
species by analyzing biological samples from the subsistence harvest 
and live captured seals, and by documenting movements and habitat use 
by tracking animals with satellite transmitters. The permit authorizes 
harassment of non-target seals of each species and a limited number of 
research-related mortalities. Samples may be imported from Russia, 
Canada, Svalbard (Norway) and exported to Canada for analyses. The 
permit was amended to include: (1) Takes by harassment during aerial 
and vessel surveys to monitor seal distribution relative to changes in 
sea ice; (2) increased takes by incidental harassment; (3) the use of 
additional sedative drugs during capture activities; and (4) the use of 
remote dart-delivery as a method for capturing bearded seals. The 
amended permit is valid through December 31, 2016.
    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.

[[Page 72631]]

    Dated: December 2, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-28638 Filed 12-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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