[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 208 (Monday, October 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50121-50122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23512]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF787


Marine Mammals; File No. 21431

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 Gregory Bossart, V.M.D., Ph.D., 
Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30313, has 
applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on bottlenose 
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before November 29, 2017.

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. 21431 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#541a1912077a042665173b3939313a2027143a3b35357a333b22"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="57191a11047907256614383a3a32392324173938363679303821">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include File No. 21431 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: Shasta McClenahan or Amy Hapeman, 
(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.), and the regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit to assess individual, 
population, and comparative perspectives of bottlenose dolphin health 
in the Indian River lagoon and Mantanzas River, Florida. Up to 40 adult 
or juvenile bottlenose dolphins per year would be captured, sampled, 
and released for health assessments. Procedures for captured dolphins 
would include morphometrics, biological sampling (skin and blubber 
biopsy, blood, mucus membrane swabs, fecal, and urine), ultrasound, 
tooth extraction, and marking (freeze-brand or roto tag). Dolphins 
would only be sampled once per year. An additional 400 bottlenose 
dolphins may be harassed each year during vessel surveys for 
photography, videography, counts, and behavioral observations. Two 
unintentional mortalities may occur due to capture over the life of the 
permit.
    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

[[Page 50122]]

application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of 
Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: October 24, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-23512 Filed 10-27-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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