[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 163 (Thursday, August 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 40144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17932]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF620


Marine Mammals; File No. 21486

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 the British Broadcasting 
Corporation (BBC) Worldwide Americas, Inc., on behalf of BBC Natural 
History Unit, 28 Whiteladies Rd, Bristol, UK, has applied in due form 
for a permit to conduct commercial or educational photography on 
Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in Antarctica.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before September 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES: These documents are 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3c72717a6f126c4e0d7f5351515952484f7c52535d5d125b534a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4806050e1b66183a790b2725252d263c3b0826272929662f273e">[email protected]</span></a>. 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: Lisa Lierheimer or Sara Young, (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 applicant proposes to film Weddell seals at various locations 
in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, between October and December 2017. Up to 
16 Weddell seals (8 mother pup-pairs from birth through weaning) could 
be targeted and disturbed during filming activities on the sea ice, 
underwater (scuba divers), and by air (drone). Up to 80 Weddell seals 
(non-targeted animals in the colony) could be incidentally disturbed 
during the filming activities. Footage would be used for the BBC 
television series ``Seven Worlds,'' to showcase Antarctica and will 
include a segment featuring Weddell seals. The permit would be valid 
through December 2017.
    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: August 18, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-17932 Filed 8-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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