2024-15862. Marine Mammals; File No. 27858

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Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

1. [RTID 0648-XE121]

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice; receipt of application.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that the Maine Department of Marine Resources, 194 McKown Point Road, West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575 (Sarah Leiter, Responsible Party), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.

DATES:

Written comments must be received on or before August 19, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

The application and related documents are available for review by selecting “Records Open for Public Comment” from the “Features” box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 27858 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request via email to [e-mail].

Written comments on this application should be submitted via email to [e-mail]. Please include File No. 27858 in the subject line of the email comment.

Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request via email to [e-mail]. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., or Carrie Hubard, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 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 through 226).

The applicant requests a 5-year research permit to study North Atlantic right whale ( Eubalaena glacialis) distribution, seasonality, density, abundance, and habitat use in the Gulf of Maine. An additional 19 species of marine mammals may be harassed and opportunistically studied including the following ESA-listed species: blue ( Balaenoptera musculus), fin ( B. physalus), sei ( B. borealis), and sperm ( Physeter macrocephalus) whales. Research may occur year-round during vessel or manned aircraft surveys for counts, photography, video recording, observations, and passive acoustic recordings. See the application for complete numbers of animals requested by species, age-class, and procedure.

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

Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register , NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

Dated: July 15, 2024.

Julia M. Harrison,

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