Marine Mammals (50 CFR Part 216), the Gulf of Mexico Reports
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 7, 2012 / Notices 47045 Atlantic Reports whale reports that focus on the permit has been issued under the In the Atlantic region (including the Hawaiian Islands region, and a new authority of the Marine Mammal Atlantic coast, Gulf Coast, and U.S. stock of Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 territories in the Caribbean), 52 reports false killer whales is presented for the U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations (covering 80 stocks) were updated, first time. New abundance estimates are governing the taking and importing of including 23 Atlantic reports and 29 available for eight stocks: Hawaiian marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Gulf of Mexico reports. Of these, 43 monk seal, Long-beaked common Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), stocks are ‘‘strategic’’ and 37 are ‘‘non- dolphin, Southern Resident killer the regulations governing the taking, strategic.’’ Information on the remaining whale, three stocks of spinner dolphin importing, and exporting of endangered Atlantic region stocks can be found in (Hawaii Island, Oahu/Four Islands, and and threatened species (50 CFR parts the final 2011 reports (Waring et al., Kauai/Niihau), Hawaii Pelagic false 222–226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, 2011). killer whale and Northwestern as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.). Atlantic white-sided dolphins became Hawaiian Islands false killer whale. The The permit authorizes the receipt and non-strategic in 2012, due to new stock assessment report for Eastern export of samples of marine mammals abundance estimates. The Northern North Pacific gray whales is now taken by Alaskan Native subsistence North Carolina Estuarine System Stock included in the Pacific Region stock hunters; and the receipt, import, and of bottlenose dolphins has a new assessment reports. export of specimens from scientists in abundance estimate based on a 2006 Dated: August 1, 2012. academic, federal, and state institutions mark-recapture survey, resulting in a Helen M. Golde, involved in legally authorized marine PBR calculation of 7.9 animals for this Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, mammal research for all marine stock (previously ‘‘undetermined’’ PBR); National Marine Fisheries Service. mammal species under NMFS the stock remains ‘‘strategic.’’ The Gulf [FR Doc. 2012–19308 Filed 8–6–12; 8:45 am] jurisdiction. Marine mammal parts may of Mexico Northern Coastal Stock of BILLING CODE 3510–22–P be used incidentally for educational bottlenose dolphins changed from non- purposes. Import and export activities strategic to strategic status with this may occur world-wide. No takes of live 2012 report, because an Unusual DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE animals are authorized. The permit will Mortality Event of unprecedented size National Oceanic and Atmospheric expire August 1, 2017. and duration (began 1 February 2010 In compliance with the National Administration and is ongoing) has impacted the Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 Northern Coastal Stock area. RIN 0648–XB158 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final A new section entitled Habitat Issues determination has been made that the has been added to each Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammals; File No. 16580 activity proposed is categorically report, which includes information on excluded from the requirement to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and prepare an environmental assessment or Natural Resource Damage Assessment environmental impact statement. process. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit was based on a finding that Pacific Reports ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit. such permit: (1) Was applied for in good In the Pacific region (waters along the faith; (2) will not operate to the west coast of the United States, within SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Shannon disadvantage of such endangered waters surrounding the main and species; and (3) is consistent with the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, and within Atkinson, Ph.D., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 17101 Pt. Lena Loop Road, purposes and policies set forth in waters surrounding U.S. Territories in section 2 of the ESA. the Western Pacific), SARs were revised Juneau, AK 99801 to receive, import and for 15 stocks (five ‘‘strategic’’ and ten export marine mammal parts for Dated: August 1, 2012. ‘‘non-strategic’’ stocks). Strategic stocks scientific research. P. Michael Payne, included: Hawaiian monk seal, ADDRESSES: The permit and related Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Southern Resident killer whale, Hawaii documents are available for review Office of Protected Resources, National Insular false killer whale, Hawaii upon written request or by appointment Marine Fisheries Service. Pelagic false killer whale, and in the following offices: [FR Doc. 2012–19304 Filed 8–6–12; 8:45 am] California/Oregon/Washington Sperm Permits and Conservation Division, BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Whale. Non-strategic stocks included: Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, Long-beaked common dolphin, Eastern 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, North Pacific Gray Whale, Northwestern Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL Hawaiian Islands false killer whale, 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376; and PROTECTION Palmyra Atoll false killer whale, Hawaii Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Island spinner dolphin, Oahu/Four Juneau, AK 99802–1668; phone (907) Proposed Collection; Comment Islands spinner dolphin, Kauai/Niihau 586–7221; fax (907) 586–7249. Request FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: spinner dolphin, Pearl and Hermes Reef AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial spinner dolphin, Midway Atoll/Kure Laura Morse or Jennifer Skidmore, Protection. (301)427–8401. spinner dolphin, and Hawaii Pelagic ACTION: Notice and request for comment. spinner dolphin. Information on the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May remaining Pacific region stocks can be 30, 2012 notice was published in the SUMMARY: The Bureau of Consumer found in the final 2011 reports (Carretta Federal Register (77 FR 31835) that a Financial Protection (Bureau), as part of et al., 2012). request for a permit to receive, import a Federal Government-wide effort to The stock assessment report for and export specimens for scientific streamline the process to seek feedback Palmyra Atoll false killer whale now research had been submitted by the from the public on service delivery, appears separately from false killer above-named applicant. The requested invites the general public and other VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Aug 06, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07AUN1.SGM 07AUN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES.