Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 37 / Friday, February 26, 2021 / Notices 11729

or hooked protected species, such as sea applications for a complete list of (UAS), for counts, photo-identification, turtles, marine mammals, smalltooth species by stock or listing unit. photography, videography, sawfish, Atlantic sturgeon, and DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email photogrammetry, behavioral prohibited sharks. In an effort to comments must be received on or before observations, passive acoustic improve reporting, the proper March 29, 2021. recordings, biological sampling (exhaled identification of protected species and ADDRESSES: The applications and air, feces, sloughed skin, and skin and prohibited sharks will also be taught at related documents are available for blubber biopsies), and tagging (suction- these workshops. Additionally, review by selecting ‘‘Records Open for cup and dart/barb). Pinnipeds may be individuals attending these workshops Public Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ taken during manned and unmanned will gain a better understanding of the box on the Applications and Permits for aerial and ground surveys for counts, requirements for participating in these Protected Species (APPS) home page, photo-identification, photography, fisheries. The overall goal of these https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then videography, photogrammetry, and workshops is to provide participants selecting applicable File No. from the collection of scat and spew. Marine with the skills needed to reduce the list of available applications. These mammal parts may also be imported, mortality of protected species and documents are also available upon exported, salvaged, or received for prohibited sharks, which may prevent written request via email to analysis and curation. See the additional regulations on these fisheries [email protected]. application for complete numbers of in the future. Written comments on these animals requested by species, life stage, and procedure. The permit is requested (Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) applications should be submitted via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ for five years. Dated: February 23, 2021. noaa.gov. Please include File No. in the File No. 23675: Brianna Witteveen, Jennifer M. Wallace, subject line of the email comment. Ph.D., University of Alaska Fairbanks, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Those individuals requesting a public 118 Trident Way, Kodiak, AK 99615, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. hearing should submit a written request proposes to conduct research in the [FR Doc. 2021–04018 Filed 2–25–21; 8:45 am] via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ North Pacific Ocean in Alaska focusing BILLING CODE 3510–22–P noaa.gov. The request should set forth on nine cetacean species. The objectives the specific reasons why a hearing on of the research are to advance the application would be appropriate. knowledge and improve understanding DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE of the foraging behavior, prey use, and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: habitat overlap among sympatric Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D. (File Nos. National Oceanic and Atmospheric cetaceans throughout their habitat. 22306 and 23675), Amy Hapeman (File Administration Cetaceans may be taken during vessel No. 24334), or Courtney Smith, Ph.D. surveys for photo-identification, (File No. 24378), (301) 427–8401. [RTID 0648–XA897] behavioral observations, active acoustic SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The sonar for prey mapping, biological Marine Mammals; File Nos. 22306, subject permits are requested under the sampling (feces, sloughed skin, 23675, 24334, and 24378 authority of the Marine Mammal predation remains, and skin and blubber Protection Act of 1972, as amended biopsies), and suction-cup tagging. Six AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the additional marine mammal species may Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and regulations governing the taking and be unintentionally harassed during Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), importing of marine mammals (50 CFR research targeting cetaceans. See the Commerce. part 216), the Endangered Species Act of application for complete numbers of ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications. 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 animals requested by species, life stage, et seq.), the regulations governing the and procedure. The permit is requested SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that taking, importing, and exporting of for 5 years. four applicants have applied in due endangered and threatened species (50 File No. 24334: Alaska Department of form for a permit to conduct scientific CFR parts 222–226), and the Fur Seal Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, research on 58 species of marine Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 AK 99802, (Responsible Party: Lori mammals. The species taken during et seq.). Quakenbush, Ph.D.) proposes to research activities may include the File No. 22306: NMFS, Southwest conduct research on five whale species following endangered or threatened Fisheries Science Center, 8901 La Jolla in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort cetaceans: Beluga whale Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, seas (U.S. and international waters) (Delphinapterus leucas); blue whale (Responsible Party: David Weller, adjacent to Alaska. Research topics (Balaenoptera musculus); bowhead Ph.D.), proposes to conduct research on would include movements, habitat use, whale (Balaena mysticetus); fin whale 48 species of cetaceans and 6 species of migration routes, body condition, (B. physalus); gray whale (Eschrichtius pinnipeds in U.S. and international predation, stock structure, population robustus); humpback whale (Megaptera waters of the Pacific and Southern abundance, behavior relative to feeding, novaeangliae); killer whale (Orcinus Oceans. The objectives of the research social interactions, human disturbance, orca); North Pacific right whale are to monitor and understand trends and social structure. Researchers would (Eubalaena japonica); sei whale and population dynamics of marine conduct vessel surveys for tagging (dart/ (Balaenoptera borealis); sperm whale mammals by collecting data on barb, deep implant, suction cup, or (Physeter microcephalus); and Southern abundance, distribution, density, dorsal ridge attachments depending on right whale (E. australis); and the survival, immigration/emigration, species), biopsy sampling, photo- following endangered or threatened reproduction, health and condition, identification, and UAS surveys for all pinnipeds: Bearded seal (Erignathus movement patterns, dive behavior, species. The applicant also requests to barbatus); Guadalupe fur seal acoustics, demography and stock conduct manned aerial surveys and (Arctocephalus townsendi); ringed seal structure. Cetaceans may be taken captures for tagging with biological (Phoca hispida spp.); and Steller sea during vessel and aerial surveys, sample collection of four beluga whale lion (Eumetopias jubatus). See the including unmanned aircraft systems stocks. The applicant also requests

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export and import of skin and blubber DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE temperature, inspired lung volumes and for the target species. Non-target seals lactate accumulation) during dives. Two and beluga whales may be National Oceanic and Atmospheric unintentional mortalities are requested unintentionally harassed, and seals may Administration annually. Up to 15 pups of the adult be incidentally captured during research [RTID 0648–XA878] females used in the research, may also activities. Up to three unintentional be marked with a neoprene patch. Take beluga mortalities may occur during Marine Mammals; File No. 24365 activities for adult animals include: Capture, restraint, anesthesia, internal captures over the duration of the permit. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries See the application for complete and external instrumentation, blood Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and sampling, flipper tagging, clipping numbers of animals requested by Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), vibrissae, and weighing, as well as species, life stage, and procedure. The Commerce. necropsy and salvage of parts from any permit is requested for 5 years. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. unintentional mortalities. Research will File No. 24378: The University of be conducted on San Nicolas Island, Alaska Southeast, 1332 Seward Ave, SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that California. Re-captures for instrument Sitka, AK 99835 (Responsible Party: Jan Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., University of removal will occur on San Nicolas Straley) proposes to conduct research on California San Diego, La Jolla, CA Island. Takes of other species annually 18 species of cetaceans in Alaska, 92093–0204, has applied in due form for may include temporary disturbance of focusing on three species of large a permit to conduct research on 100 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), 200 California sea lions (Zalophus whales. The objective of the research is northern elephant seals (Mirounga californianus). to further the biological understanding angustirostris), 4,000 California sea of Alaskan cetaceans by evaluating DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email lions (Zalophus californianus), and 30 species abundance, population and comments must be received on or before northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) stock structure, life history parameters, March 29, 2021. during captures. The permit would be foraging behavior and prey ADDRESSES: The application and related valid for five years. In compliance with the National specialization, social behavior, seasonal documents are available for review by Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 movements and migrations, and selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial depredation interactions with longline determination has been made that the fishing vessels. Research methods the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) home page, activity proposed is categorically include close approach by vessels and excluded from the requirement to UAS to conduct photo-identification, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 24365 from the list of prepare an environmental assessment or behavioral observations, underwater available applications. These documents environmental impact statement. photography/video, active acoustic are also available upon written request Concurrent with the publication of sonar for prey mapping, tagging via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ this notice in the Federal Register, (suction-cup and dart/barb), biological noaa.gov. NMFS is forwarding copies of the sampling (prey samples, exhaled air, Written comments on this application application to the Marine Mammal sloughed skin, feces), and collection of should be submitted via email to Commission and its Committee of water samples for environmental DNA [email protected]. Please Scientific Advisors. (eDNA). Some marine mammal parts include File No. 24365 in the subject Dated: February 22, 2021. may be exported for analysis. See the line of the email comment. Amy Sloan, application for complete numbers of Those individuals requesting a public Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation animals requested by species, life stage, hearing should submit a written request Division, Office of Protected Resources, and procedure. The permit is requested via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ National Marine Fisheries Service. for 5 years. noaa.gov. The request should set forth [FR Doc. 2021–03980 Filed 2–25–21; 8:45 am] In compliance with the National the specific reasons why a hearing on BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 this application would be appropriate. U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE determination has been made that the Young or Dr. Shasta McClenahan, (301) 427–8401. proposed activities are categorically National Oceanic and Atmospheric SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: excluded from the requirement to The Administration prepare an environmental assessment or subject permit is requested under the environmental impact statement. authority of the Marine Mammal [RTID 0648–XA893] Protection Act of 1972, as amended Concurrent with the publication of (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the Marine Mammals; File No. 24395 this notice in the Federal Register, regulations governing the taking and AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries NMFS is forwarding copies of the importing of marine mammals (50 CFR Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and application to the Marine Mammal part 216). Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commission and its Committee of The purpose of this research is to Commerce. Scientific Advisors. determine the role of physiological ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. Dated: February 23, 2021. responses, oxygen store depletion, and eventual anaerobic metabolism in dive SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Amy Sloan, behavior and foraging ecology of Lorrie Rea, Ph.D., University of Alaska Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation California sea lions. On an annual basis, Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop ELIF Suite Division, Office of Protected Resources, up to 15 adult females will be captured 240, Fairbanks, AK 99775, has applied National Marine Fisheries Service. and instrumented to measure in due form for a permit to receive, [FR Doc. 2021–04055 Filed 2–25–21; 8:45 am] physiological responses (heart rate, import, and export pinniped parts for BILLING CODE 3510–22–P stroke rate, oxygen depletion, scientific research.

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