Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 2014 / Notices 74711 

these passive deterrence devices 

provides for human safety and does not 

increase the risk of death or serious 

injury of marine mammals. Such 

measures have been most commonly 

deployed for deterring pinnipeds and 

could include rigid fencing and other 

fixed barriers such as gates and fence 

skirting, closely spaced posts, and 

visual deterrents (e.g., flags, pinwheels, 

flashing lights). For small cetaceans, 

modifying fishing behavior to prevent 

interactions is another option. For 

example a fishing vessel could 

minimize the number of turns made 

while trawling and reduce tow times at 

night. 

Active Deterrents 

‘‘Active’’ deterrence measures 

introduce a stimulus into a marine 

mammal’s environment to dissuade an 

animal from interacting with property, 

people, or fishing gear or catch or 

stopping a dangerous or damaging 

interaction. Examples of active 

measures include underwater acoustic 

devices (e.g., pingers, seal scarers, 

noisemakers such as horns or whistles) 

that generate sounds known to be 

annoying but not harmful to marine 

mammals, physical contact such as 

prodding a marine mammal with blunt 

poles, pushing or herding an animal, 

and spraying water at an animal, as well 

as, for seals and sea lions, some light 

explosives to induce a startle response. 

Request for Public Comment 

Pursuant to MMPA section 

101(a)(4)(B), NMFS intends to develop 

national guidelines for deterring marine 

mammals under NOAA’s jurisdiction 

(see www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/

mammals). NMFS is soliciting public 

input on which deterrents the public 

would like NMFS to evaluate and 

consider for approval through these 

national guidelines. For each device or 

technique submitted for consideration, 

NMFS requests any available 

information on the specifications for 

each deterrent, which marine mammal 

species or species group would be 

deterred, how a deterrent would be 

deployed, and any other 

implementation considerations. NMFS 

would also appreciate any details, if 

known, on the nature of the interaction 

for which deterrence measures are being 

sought or already employed. 

NMFS is not requesting that 

individuals undertake new research to 

inform this process. Further, please note 

that some devices or techniques may not 

be appropriate for use on certain species 

or in certain areas and may be subject 

to prohibition or permitting 

requirements under federal, state, or 

local ordinances. 

For each deterrent device or 

technique submitted, please include 

information on the following: 

• The intended species and/or 

species group (i.e., large cetaceans, 

small cetaceans, or pinnipeds) that 

could be deterred by a particular device 

or technique. 

• Details on the nature of the 

interaction that warrants deterrence, 

including, if known, the associated 

marine mammal behavior (e.g., 

depredation of bait or catch, bycatch, 

begging, damage to fishing gear or 

property) and location of the interaction 

(e.g., at sea, on land, on a dock, on 

private property). 

• A description of the device or 

technique, including all available 

manufacturer specifications of the 

device and photographs or graphics, if 

possible. For example, for acoustic 

deterrent or harassment devices, please 

include source level (e.g., decibel level 

(dB)), reference pressure (e.g., peak, root 

mean square (RMS)), frequency levels 

(in Hertz or kilohertz), pulse rates and 

duration, battery requirements, and 

recommended spacing. For example, 

one type of acoustic harassment device, 

a 10 kHz pinger, emits sound at 132 dB 

(± 4 dB) re 1 micropascal at 1 m, lasting 

300 milliseconds (± 15 milliseconds), 

and repeating every 4 seconds (± 0.2 

seconds). 

• Reports, literature, or data from any 

field trials or pilot studies evaluating 

the device or technique, including any 

observed death or serious injury that 

resulted from using the device or 

technique. 

• Any other information relative to 

the potential risk that a specific device 

or technique may have in causing the 

death or serious injury of a marine 

mammal. 

• The manner in which the device or 

technique would be deployed. 

Specifically, details on how the 

deterrent would be attached to fishing 

gear (e.g., number of devices, distance 

between deterrents, etc.), launched at 

some distance, deployed on a dock or 

vessel, etc. For example, for acoustic 

pingers deployed to deter harbor 

porpoises from gillnets, a 10 kHz pinger 

would be attached at each end of a 

gillnet string and at the bridle of every 

net within a string of nets (every 300 ft 

(91.44 m)). For a physical barrier on 

private property intended to prevent 

pinnipeds from gaining access, the 

barrier should be made of galvanized 

metal to withstand the marine 

environment and block haul-out 

attempts, and the rungs should be 

spaced no more than 18 inches (45.72 

cm) apart. 

• Potential effects on other marine 

mammals, ESA-listed species, or the 

environment in the area where a 

deterrent would be used. 

• Any other implementation 

considerations that NMFS should 

consider. 

In summary, NMFS is soliciting input 

on which deterrents the public would 

like NMFS to evaluate and consider for 

approval through the development of 

national guidelines for safely deterring 

marine mammals. NMFS will consider 

these suggested deterrents and others, as 

appropriate, for inclusion in the 

guidelines and will subsequently 

publish any such guidelines developed 

as a part of this process in the Federal 

Register for public notice and comment, 

as required by MMPA section 

101(a)(4)(B). 

Dated: December 11, 2014. 

Donna S. Wieting, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29394 Filed 12–15–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XD505 

Endangered Species; File No. 18688 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, 

1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1110, 

Honolulu, HI 96814 [Responsible Party: 

Michael Tosatto], has applied in due 

form for a permit to take hawksbill 

(Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley 

(Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback 

(Dermochelys imbricata), loggerhead 

(Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia 

mydas) sea turtles for purposes of 

scientific research. 

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email 

comments must be received on or before 

January 15, 2015. 

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. 18688 from the list of available 

applications. 

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74712 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 2014 / Notices 

These documents are also available 

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. 

Written comments on this application 

should be submitted to the Chief, 

Permits and Conservation Division by 

email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov 

(include the File No. in the subject line 

of the email), by facsimile to (301) 713– 

0376, or at the address listed above. 

Those individuals requesting a public 

hearing should submit a written request 

to the Chief, Permits and Conservation 

Division at the address listed above. The 

request should set forth the specific 

reasons why a hearing on this 

application would be appropriate. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy Hapeman or Courtney Smith, (301) 

427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

subject permit is requested under the 

authority of 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). 

On September 22, 2014 notice (79 FR 

56573) was published that the applicant 

requests a five-year research permit to 

conduct research on sea turtles bycaught 

in three longline fisheries in the Pacific 

Ocean around Hawaii and American 

Samoa to assess sea turtle post-hooking 

survival, movements, and ecology in 

pelagic habitats. NMFS is currently 

processing this request. The applicant is 

requesting to revise the number of 

turtles that could be taken for research 

in the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery. 

Each species’ take numbers would be 

reduced except for leatherback sea 

turtles which would increase from 13 to 

24 turtles annually. This change is 

needed to keep the requested research 

take activities consistent with a new 

2014 Biological Opinion which changed 

the number of sea turtles that may be 

incidental bycaught in this commercial 

fishery. All other aspects of the 

application would remain the same. 

Dated: December 8, 2014. 

Julia Harrison, 

Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, 

Office of Protected Resources, National 

Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29346 Filed 12–15–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XD075 

[Endangered Species; File No. 18136] 

Issuance of Permit 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Issuance of permit. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Larry Wood, LDWood BioConsulting, 

Inc., 425 Kennedy Street, Jupiter, FL 

33468 has been issued a permit to take 

hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys 

imbricata) for purposes of scientific 

research. 

ADDRESSES: The permit 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 Hapeman or Brendan Hurley, (301) 

427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

January 17. 2014, notice was published 

in the Federal Register (79 FR 3181) 

that a request for a scientific research 

permit to take hawksbill sea turtles had 

been submitted by the above-named 

individual. The requested permit has 

been issued under the authority of 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). 

Mr. Wood has been issued a research 

permit to continue to describe the 

abundance and movements of an 

aggregation of hawksbill sea turtles 

found on the barrier reefs of southeast 

Florida. Up to 50 sea turtles may be 

approached during dives for observation 

and photographs annually. Up to 25 

additional animals may be hand 

captured, measured, flipper and passive 

integrated transponder tagged, 

photographed, tissue sampled, and 

released annually. In addition, up to six 

sub-adult and six adult hawksbills may 

be captured for the above procedures 

and fitted with a satellite transmitter 

prior to their release. The permit is valid 

through September 30, 2019. 

Issuance of this permit, as required by 

the ESA, 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 or 

threatened species, and (3) is consistent 

with the purposes and policies set forth 

in section 2 of the ESA. 

Dated: December 5, 2014. 

Julia Harrison, 

Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, 

Office of Protected Resources, National 

Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29347 Filed 12–15–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING 

COMMISSION 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Notice of Intent To Renew 

Collection 3038–0023, Commodity Pool 

Operators and Commodity Trading 

Advisors: Amendments to Compliance 

Obligations 

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Commodity Futures 

Trading Commission (‘‘Commission’’ or 

‘‘CFTC’’) is announcing an opportunity 

for public comment on the proposed 

collection of certain information by the 

agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction 

Act (‘‘PRA’’), Federal agencies are 

required to publish notice in the 

Federal Register concerning each 

proposed collection of information, 

including each proposed extension of an 

existing collection of information, and 

to allow 60 days for public comment. 

This notice solicits comments on the 

continued registration requirements 

relating to commodity pool operators 

and commodity trading advisors. 

DATES: Comments must be submitted on 

or before February 17, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, 

identified by ‘‘Commodity Pool 

Operators and Commodity Trading 

Advisors: Amendments to Compliance 

Obligations’’ by any of the following 

methods: 

• The Agency’s Web site, at http://

comments.cftc.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

through the Web site. 

• Mail: Christopher Kirkpatrick, 

Secretary of the Commission, 

Commodity Futures Trading 

Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 

1155 21st Street NW., Washington, DC 

20581. 

• Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as 

Mail, above. 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

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