2023-27134. Marine Mammals and Endangered Species

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice; issuance of permits, permit amendments, and permit modifications.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that permits, permit amendments, and permit modifications have been issued to the following entities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as applicable.

ADDRESSES:

The permits and related documents are available for review upon written request via email to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Amy Hapeman (Permit No. 23639–02), Carrie Hubard (Permit Nos. 21678–01 and 27361), Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D. (Permit Nos. 21938–03 and 27426), Erin Markin, Ph.D. (Permit No. 20528–05), and Malcolm Mohead (Permit No. 23096–01); at (301) 427–8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notices were published in the Federal Register on the dates listed below that requests for a permit, permit amendment, or permit modification had been submitted by the below-named applicants. To locate the Federal Register notice that announced our receipt of the application and a complete description of the activities, go to https://www.federalregister.gov and search on the permit number provided in table 1 below.

Table 1—Issued Permits, Permit Amendments, and Permit Modifications

Permit No.	RTID	Applicant	Previous Federal Register Notice	Issuance Date
20528–05	0648–XD367	South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412 (Responsible Party: Bill Post)	88 FR 65369, September 22, 2023	November 17, 2023.
21678–01	0648–XG320	John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research Collective, 218 1/2 West Fourth Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501	83 FR 64114, December 13, 2018	November 16, 2023.
21938–03	0648–XG344	NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149 (Responsible Party: Mridula Srinivasan, Ph.D.).	84 FR 27767, June 14, 2019	November 16, 2023.
23639–02	0648–XD215	Coonamessett Farm Foundation, Inc., 277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth, MA 02536, (Responsible Party: Ronald Smolowitz)	88 FR 51300, August 3, 2023	November 2, 2023.
27361	0648–XD310	Brent Stewart, Ph.D., Brent S Stewart Associates, 3889 Creststone Place, San Diego, CA 92130	88 FR 60664, September 5, 2023.	November 14, 2023.
27426	0648–XD335	Oregon State University, Marine Mammal Institute, 2030 Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365 (Responsible Party: Lisa Ballance, Ph.D.)	88 FR 62344, September 11, 2023	November 17, 2023.
23096–01	0648–XD422	University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 East Green Street, Athens, GA 30602 (Responsible Party: Nate Nibbelink, Ph.D.)	88 FR 67251, September 29, 2023	November 20, 2023.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

As required by the ESA, as applicable, issuance of these permit was based on a finding that such permits: (1) were applied for in good faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in Section 2 of the ESA.

Authority: The requested permits have been issued under the MMPA of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222–226), as applicable.

Dated: December 6, 2023.

Amy Sloan,

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