Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 177 / Friday, September 11, 2020 / Notices 56219

Appendix II—List of Topics Discussed The beluga whales were born at The permit is valid through August 31, in the Preliminary Decision Marineland of Canada and NMFS 2025. Memorandum considers one of the beluga whales to be An Environmental Assessment (EA) a member of the depleted Sakhalin Bay- was prepared analyzing the effects of I. Summary Nikolaya Bay-Amur River stock, because the permitted activities on the human II. Background both parents are likely from the III. Scope Comments environment in compliance with the IV. Scope of the Investigation depleted stock. Four of the whales have National Environmental Policy Act of V. Use of Facts Available and Adverse mixed-stock parentage (i.e., one parent 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Inferences likely from the depleted stock and the Based on the analyses in the EA, VI. Analysis of Programs other from a stock that has not been NMFS determined that issuance of the VII. Calculation of the All-Others Rate designated as depleted). For purposes of permit would not significantly impact VIII. Recommendation this permit application, NMFS has the quality of the human environment [FR Doc. 2020–20073 Filed 9–10–20; 8:45 am] treated all five whales as depleted. and that preparation of an BILLING CODE P The purpose of the research is to environmental impact statement was contribute knowledge and inform not required. That determination is management and recovery of beluga documented in a Finding of No DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE whale populations in the wild including Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on the endangered Cook Inlet August 27, 2020. National Oceanic and Atmospheric distinct population segment and the Administration depleted Sakhalin Bay-Nikolaya Bay- Dated: September 8, 2020. Amur River beluga whale stock. Julia Marie Harrison, [RTID 0648–XA471] Research authorized includes the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Mammals; File No. 22629 following Studies: (1) Neuroimmunological response to Marine Fisheries Service. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries environmental and anthropogenic [FR Doc. 2020–20061 Filed 9–10–20; 8:45 am] Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and stressors; (2) Development of novel non- BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), invasive techniques to assess health in Commerce. free-ranging, stranded and endangered DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit. beluga whales; (3) Hearing and physiological response to anthropogenic National Oceanic and Atmospheric SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a sound; (4) Photogrammetry body Administration permit has been issued to Mystic condition studies; (5) Diving Aquarium (Responsible Party: Stephen physiology; (6) Microbiome; and (8) Evaluation of National Estuarine M. Coan, Ph.D.) to import five beluga Testing of prototype telemetry and Research Reserve; Public Meeting; whales (Delphinapterus leucas) for imaging devices before deployment on Request for Comments scientific research. wild beluga whales. The permit does ADDRESSES: The permit and related not authorize Study 7 (Behavioral and AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management documents are available online at reproduction studies) including (OCM), National Ocean Service (NOS), https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ breeding of any of the imported beluga National Oceanic and Atmospheric permit-application-import-5-beluga- whales but includes reproductive Administration (NOAA), Department of whales-scientific-research-file-no-22629- monitoring as part of husbandry Commerce (DOC). mystic-aquarium. activities. must ACTION: Notice of public meeting and submit a plan to provide safe and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: opportunity to comment. effective contraception or other means Amy Sloan ([email protected]), to prevent breeding of the five subject SUMMARY: Courtney Smith (courtney.smith@ The National Oceanic and beluga whales, for approval by the noaa.gov), or Jennifer Skidmore Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office Director prior to importation. Office for Coastal Management will hold ([email protected]), (301) Consistent with other research 427–8401. a public meeting to solicit comments on permits authorizing captive the performance evaluation of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On maintenance, the permit is conditioned Delaware National Estuarine Research October 1, 2019, notice was published to require approval by the Office Reserve. in the Federal Register (84 FR 52072) Director for any transfer or transport of that a request for a permit to import five the imported whales, including any DATES: NOAA will consider all written beluga whales for scientific research had transport to the Georgia Aquarium, and comments received by October 23, 2020. been submitted by the above-named disposition of the whales at the A virtual public meeting will be held on applicant. A public hearing on this termination of research. Consistent with Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 12 p.m. action was held on November 18, 2019 NMFS’ regulations, public display is EDT. (84 FR 58694). The requested permit has authorized incidental to the research. ADDRESSES: You may submit written been issued under the authority of the This incidental public display must not comments on the national estuarine Protection Act of 1972, interfere with the research and must research reserve NOAA intends to as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and occur as part of an educational program evaluate by emailing Carrie Hall, the regulations governing the taking and describing the status of the species and Evaluator, NOAA Office for Coastal importing of marine mammals (50 CFR its endangered and depleted stocks. The management at [email protected]. part 216). animals may not be used in public Timely comments received by the Office The permit authorizes the importation interactive programs or be trained for for Coastal Management are considered of five captive-born beluga whales from performance. Public demonstrations in part of the public record and may be Marineland of Canada (Niagara Falls, which the whales perform trained publicly accessible. Any personal , Canada) to Mystic Aquarium husbandry, medical, research-related, information (e.g., name, address) (Mystic, Connecticut, United States). and natural behaviors are authorized. submitted voluntarily by the sender may

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