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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 6 (Friday, January 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1398-1399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00142]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XZ51

Marine Mammals; File No. 15543

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Randall S. Wells, Ph.D. (Principal 
Investigator), Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine 
Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, has applied 
for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No.15543-03.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before February 9, 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 home 
page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No.15543 from 
the list of available applications.
    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, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    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: Courtney Smith or Brendan Hurley, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 15543-03 
is requested 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).
    Permit No. 15543, issued on May 26, 2011 (76 FR 32144), authorizes 
the permit holder to conduct photo-identification and behavioral 
studies, remote biopsy sampling, and temporary capture and release 
activities for health assessments of bottlenose dolphins. Research may 
occur in shallow, inshore and coastal waters of west Florida out to 50 
miles offshore. The permit was modified with several minor amendments 
that further authorized the development of cell lines from blubber 
tissue (Permit No. 15543-01, issued September 21, 2011); the 
application of zinc oxide to mark animals to aid in their 
identification during post-tagging behavioral observations (Permit No. 
15543-02, issued January 22, 2014); and the use of an unmanned aerial 
system (UAS) to aid in health assessment captures and field surveys 
(Permit No. 15543-03; issued May 1, 2014).
    The applicant has requested to amend the permit by expanding the 
study area to include the bay, sound, estuary and associated coastal 
waters of Mobile Bay, Alabama, and Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana, and 160 
annual takes in each location by remote biopsy sampling of bottlenose 
dolphins. Additionally, 160 annual biopsy takes will be added to the 
currently authorized allotment of Florida biopsy activities to include 
a focused study in Pensacola Bay, FL. These research activities aim to 
understand dolphin population dynamics, abundance, movement patterns, 
feeding ecology, and specific metrics of biological and physiological 
condition to understand acute and chronic effects of the Deepwater 
Horizon oil spill. Biopsy samples will be distributed to authorized 
recipients for processing.
    The applicant has also requested to capture, satellite-tag, and 
release up to 25 Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) for 
health assessments by hoop-netting bow-riding individuals during 
surveys on the West Florida Shelf. Up to 2 takes by unintentional 
mortality are requested annually. These activities will help to 
determine ranging patterns, dive behavior and habitat use of this 
understudied species. These same activities are already authorized for 
bottlenose dolphins under the current permit (No. 15543-03).
    Finally, the applicant has requested a minor procedural 
modification to allow the administration of doubly-labeled water 
(deuterium oxide and oxygen-18) to bottlenose dolphins that are 
temporarily captured during health assessments. This procedure is part 
of a larger study to determine the metabolic rates of females with and 
without calves, and of 2-3 year old calves. The

[[Page 1399]]

doubly-labeled water will be administered via a stomach tube 
(procedural variants of this, lavage and gastric sampling, is already 
authorized under the current permit). Additional personnel with germane 
experience to this project are requested to be Co-investigators.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: December 24, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-00142 Filed 1-8-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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