05-20715. Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on Issuance of Permits for Research on Northern Right Whales in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of Intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

SUMMARY:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the environmental impacts of issuing permits facilitating research on endangered northern right whales.

Publication of this notice begins the official scoping process that will help identify alternatives and determine the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. This notice requests public participation in the scoping process and provides information on how to participate.

ADDRESSES:

See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates, times, and locations of public scoping meetings for this issue.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Written statements and questions regarding the scoping process must be postmarked by January 31, 2006, and should be mailed to: Steve Leathery, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226, Fax: [phone] or e-mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

NMFS proposes to continue to issue permits to various individuals and institutions for conduct of research on northern right whales, Eubalaena glacialis, in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Note that the International Whaling Commission recognizes two species of northern right whale: E. glacialis in the North Atlantic and E. japonica in the North Pacific. NMFS is currently conducting a status review to determine whether to list the population of northern right whales in the Pacific as a separate species (E. japonica) from the population in the Atlantic (E. glacialis). Permits would be issued pursuant to the provisions of section 104 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and NMFS regulations implementing these statutes.

NMFS is the Federal agency responsible under the MMPA and ESA for management of right whales. NMFS issues permits to qualified individuals and institutions so they can conduct research activities likely to result in collection of information needed by NMFS to conserve and recover northern right whales. NMFS has issued permits for research on right whales for several decades.

The purpose of issuing permits is to allow an exemption to the prohibition on “takes” established under the ESA and MMPA. The ESA and the MMPA prohibit “takes” of threatened and endangered species, and of marine mammals, respectively. The ESA defines “take” as “to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.” Under the MMPA, “take” is defined as to “harass, hunt, capture, collect or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, collect or kill any marine mammal.” The MMPA further defines harassment as “any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing a disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering but which does not have the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level B harassment].”

In addition to the general prohibitions of the MMPA and ESA, federal regulations (50 CFR 224.103) prohibit both boats and aircraft from approaching any right whale in the North Atlantic closer than 500 yards, except by permit. Many research activities, including aerial and vessel-based surveys, photo-identification, attachment of scientific instruments, and collection of tissue samples (remote biopsy sampling), require approaching right whales closer than this and may result in harassment or other acts otherwise prohibited under the MMPA and ESA.

While the status of the right whale population has remained critical, the interest in research that will identify or resolve conservation problems for the species has grown. The level of research effort relative to the population size has increased and researchers are developing ever more innovative techniques to study right whales. In addition, Congress continues to appropriate funds to facilitate research on right whales, which in turn drives requests for research permits. Thus, NMFS has decided to prepare an EIS to evaluate the cumulative impacts of research on right whales and to assess the likely environmental effects of issuing permits under a range of alternatives characterized by different research methods, mitigation measures, and level of effort, including a range of sample sizes and temporal and geographic scopes of research.

The Proposed Action Alternative would result in issuance of permits to qualified individuals and institutions to conduct those research activities determined critical or essential to NMFS' conservation and recovery of right whales. To minimize the cumulative impacts of research on right whales, no permits would be issued for lower priority research activities until the highest priority tasks were completed or unless there was sufficient information to determine that the cumulative impacts of allowing additional takes for research would not disadvantage or jeopardize the continued existence of the species. The Proposed Action could thus be viewed as a minimum take alternative, allowing the least amount of research practicable to meet NMFS' needs for recovery of the species.

In addition to the Proposed Action, NMFS will consider other alternatives for issuing permits for research on right whales. One alternative to the Proposed Action is to issue all permits requested regardless of their relative potential contribution to recovery of the species, provided they meet all permit issuance criteria and would not jeopardize the continued existence of the species. In contrast to the Proposed Action, this could be viewed as the maximum allowable take alternative.

Another alternative to the Proposed Action is the No Action Alternative, which CEQ regulations require be included for consideration. The No Action Alternative would only allow conduct of that research on right whales already allowed under existing permits, which are valid through 2010. No new permits would be issued to replace the expiring permits, nor would existing permits be amended to allow modifications in research activities, sample sizes, or objectives.

A fourth alternative considered is the Status Quo. As with the No Action Alternative, the Status Quo Alternative would allow conduct of research on right whales already identified under existing permits, and no permits would be amended to change research activities, sample sizes, or objectives. However, under the Status Quo Alternative, new permits would be issued to replace existing permits as they expire such that the current level of research and types of research activities would continue. Since the Status Quo would not allow issuance of permits for any research activities, objectives, or sample sizes not currently permitted, it would preclude adaptive changes in the research program that may be responsive to changes in the population status or threats to the recovery of the population.

The Status Quo and two other alternatives considered by NMFS may be eliminated from detailed study because they would not allow conduct of research identified by NMFS as necessary for conservation of the species. The other two alternatives that may be eliminated from further study are: (1) imposing a research permit moratorium (i.e., suspending or revoking existing permits and not issuing new ones) and (2) suspending all intrusive research activities (i.e., stopping biopsy sampling, instrument attachment, and other activities that could result in physical injury). In addition to preventing collection of information about right whales needed for NMFS conservation and recovery efforts for the species, a research permit moratorium would seriously hinder conduct of the aerial surveys vital to operation of networks established to minimize shipstrikes with right whales. Suspending permits for intrusive research would impede collection of information on right whale habitat use and population structure which is needed for NMFS conservation and recovery efforts for the species.

Major environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS include: NMFS' information needs for conservation of the species; the types of research activities to be permitted, including temporal and geographic extent of activities, level of effort (sample sizes and frequency of sampling), and standardized protocols; mitigation measures; and the cumulative impacts of research activities on right whales and the environment. To be consistent with the purposes and policies of the MMPA and ESA and with NMFS' implementing regulations, research permitted under any alternative should contribute to fulfilling a research need or objective identified in the Right Whale Recovery Plan; understanding the basic biology or ecology of marine mammals; or identifying, evaluating, or resolving conservation problems for the species. NMFS is therefore seeking public comments especially in the following five areas related to permits for research on right whales:

(1) Types of research. For example, are there critical research needs for this species other than those identified in the Recovery Plan? If so, what are they and how are they likely to benefit the species? Of the research, information, and monitoring needs identified in the Recovery Plan, what are the most appropriate methods to conduct the study or obtain the information?

(2) Level of research effort. For example, how much of a specific research activity (e.g., aerial survey, tagging, biopsy sampling, etc.) is enough for management and conservation needs? Can there be too much? If so, how should NMFS set limits? Should there be different standards or more restrictions placed on research conducted on certain age, sex, or reproductive classes or life-history stages? If so, what are those classes/stages and what should those limitations be?

(3) Coordination of research. For example, assuming permits are issued to multiple individuals, what are the most appropriate mechanisms for ensuring research is coordinated to maximize information and reduce adverse impacts? Alternatively, should NMFS consider limiting the number of permits to increase coordination and cooperation? If so, how should this be accomplished? Should researchers operating under different permits (but studying the same or related questions - such as aerial survey for population census or biopsy for population genetics) be required to use the same or similar methods to ensure the information collected is comparable and useful in NMFS conservation of the species? If so, what methods are most appropriate (for aerial surveys; vessel surveys; photo-identification; biopsy for genetic analyses, contaminants analyses; etc.)? If not, how should NMFS compare or use the data from various permit holders in its management decisions?

(4) Qualifications of researchers. For example, to ensure the study is conducted successfully and with the minimum of adverse impacts, how much prior experience should a permit applicant, principal investigator, or anyone else operating under a permit, have with the specific methods for which they seek a permit?

(5) Effects of research. NMFS will be assessing possible effects of the various research methods using all appropriate available information. Anyone having relevant information they believe NMFS should consider in its analysis should provide a complete citation or reference for retrieving the information. In addition, NMFS is seeking recommendations for study designs that could detect or predict the effects of research on right whales.

For additional information about right whales, the permit process, and related information, please visit our website at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/​pr/​rightwhale/​.

Scoping Meetings Agenda

Public scoping meetings will be held at the following dates, times, and locations:

1. Thursday, November 3, 2005, 3 - 6 p.m., New Bedford Whaling Museum, Auditorium, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA;

2. Saturday, December 10, 2005, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., Manchester Grand Hyatt, Elizabeth A Room, One Market Place, San Diego, CA; and

3. Thursday, January 19, 2006, 1 - 4 p.m., Silver Spring Metro Center, Building 4, Science Center, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD.

Comments will be accepted at these meetings as well as during the scoping period, and can be mailed to NMFS by January 31, 2006 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

We will consider all comments received during the comment period. All hardcopy submissions must be unbound, on paper no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches (216 by 279 mm), and suitable for copying and electronic scanning. We request that you include in your comments:

(1) Your name and address;

(2) Whether or not you would like to receive a copy of the Draft EIS; and

(3) Any background documents to support your comments as you feel necessary.

Special Accommodations

These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Carrie Hubard or Tammy Adams, 301-713-2289 (voice) or 301-427-2582 (fax), at least 5 days before the scheduled meeting date.

Dated: October 12, 2005.

Patrick Opay,

Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.