Letters - 2009

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit requests (9) from Whitlow Au, Ph.D.; Jim Darling, Ph.D.; Joseph Mobley, Jr.; Adam Pack, Ph.D.; Fred A. Sharpe, Ph.D., Janice Straley; Briana Witteveen, Ph.D., Ann Zoidis, and Rachel Cartwright, Ph.D., for authorization to take by harassment North Pacific humpback whales and various other species of cetaceans for scientific research

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Conservation Science, for authorization to take small numbers of California sea lions, Pacific harbor seals, northern elephant seals, and Steller sea lions by Level B harassment 

Department of the Interior

Proposal to designate critical habitat for the polar bear

Fish and Wildlife Service

Permit request from David E. Clapham, M.D., Ph.D., for authorization to import from Germany biological samples from polar bears collected in Canada

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from Robert Pilley for authorization to take by Level B harassment up to 112 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins annually over a two-year period

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed rule and 12-month finding regarding a petition to list the spotted seal under the Endangered Species Act

Fish and Wildlife Service

Permit request from Natalija Lace, University of Southern Mississippi to take by harassment up to seven manatees being maintained for rehabilitation at Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from Southeast Fisheries Science for authorization to take by Level B harassment and skin and blubber biopsy sampling various numbers of all cetacean species that may occur in study areas in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea, including blue whales, fin whales, sei whales, humpback whales, sperm whales, and North Atlantic right whales, and to import into the United States tissue samples collected in international waters and in other countries

National Marine Fisheries Service

Planned acquisition by the Department of the Navy of two non-releasable, rehabilitated California sea lions from the Marine Mammal Care Center and the Marine Mammal Center

Fish and Wildlife Service

Permit request from Tom S. Smith, Brigham Young University, for authorization to take by Level B harassment up to 18 polar bears annually over a five-year period

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Sonoma County Water Agency for  authorization to take small numbers of Pacific harbor seals, California sea lions, and northern elephant seals by harassment

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., for amendment of permit authorizing research on Weddell seals in the Ross Sea, Antarctica

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., for authorization to take by harassment 10 adult female California sea lions annually to investigate the role of blood oxygen store depletion in the dive behavior and foraging ecology

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies for authorization to take by harassment North Atlantic right whales during aerial and vessel surveys and suction-cup tagging activities

National Science Foundation

Permit request from Louis L. Jacobs, Southern Methodist University, for authorization to collect and import the remains of mummified pinnipeds for analysis and archiving at the university’s Shuler Museum of Paleontology

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed regulations to govern the taking of marine mammals during Navy exercises within the Mariana Islands Range Complex

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Eglin Air Force Base for renewal of its incidental harassment authorization for activities within the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Petition to list the Pacific walrus subspecies as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Oregon Coast Aquarium for authorization to import up to eight harbor seals from Canada

National Science Foundation

Request from George Watters for modification of an existing permit to expand research activities on pinnipeds

National Science Foundation

Request from Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., for authorization under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 to conduct research on Weddell seals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory for authorization to conduct research on marine mammals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Alaska Department of Fish and Game for amendment of an existing permit to conduct research on harbor, spotted, ringed, bearded, and ribbon seals

U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Petition to revise designated critical habitat for the Florida manatee

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Shane Moore the extension of an existing permit to take killer whales, gray whales, and minke whales during close approach for filming

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society for authorization to take seals and sea lions incidental to restoration and maintenance of the light station

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from Scott Kraus, Ph.D., for authorization to take by harassment North Atlantic right whales during aerial and vessel surveys, and biopsy sampling

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from Colleen Reichmuth, Ph.D., for authorization to continue perceptual and cognitive evaluations of pinnipeds at Long Marine Laboratory, Santa Cruz, CA 

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from NMFS Office of Science and Technology for authorization to take by harassment beaked whales and other odontocetes while studying what characteristics of sound cause behavioral responses in these deep-diving cetaceans

Fish and Wildlife Service

Permit request from Emma Napper, Ph.D., for authorization to take by Level B harassment southern sea otters during filming of mother-pup interactions in Monterey Harbor, CA

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request for permit amendment from the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, to increase from 500 to 1,500 yearly the number of Pacific walruses to be harassed during research.

Council on Environmental Quality

Interim Report of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force

National Science Foundation

Permit modification request from Robert Garrott, Ph.D., for authorization  to temporarily attach temperature-logging tags on Weddell seal pups

Minerals Management Service

Notice of intent to prepare an environmental assessment for lease sale 215 in the Gulf of Mexico

Fish and Wildlife Service

Permit request from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for authorization to satellite-tag and biopsy-sample walruses off western Alaska

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for authorization to take Atlantic bottlenose dolphins incidental to blasting and dredging at Blount Island, Duval County, FL

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request for permit amendment from Charles Grossman, Ph.D., for authorization to acquire larynxes from necropsied Florida manatees to investigate mechanics of manatee vocalizations

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from University of Alaska Museum for authorization collect, receive, import, and export unspecified numbers of cetacean and pinniped parts

National Marine Fisheries Service

Draft 2009 stock assessment reports for marine mammals

Fish and Wildlife Service

Proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for the 15th Conference of Parties, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Sept. 21, 2009

Fish and Wildlife Service

Draft 2009 stock assessment reports for the southern Beaufort Sea and Chukchi/Bering Seas stocks of polar bears

Minerals Management Service

Draft proposed 5-year Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing program and notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement

Fish and Wildlife Service

Draft 2009 stock assessment report for the Pacific walrus

Department of Commerce

Continuation of reporting requirements relative to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

Minerals Management Service

Safety and Environmental Management Systems for Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Operations

U.S. Coast Guard

Final environmental impact statement addressing the Port Dolphin LLC liquefied natural gas deepwater port

Fish and Wildlife Service

Draft 2009 stock assessment reports for the Florida and Puerto Rico stocks of West Indian manatees

Alliance for Local Sustainable Agriculture

Harbor seals and aquaculture operations in Drake’s Estero, Point Reyes National Seashore

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit application from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center

National Marine Fisheries Service

Draft Guidance for Monitoring the Recovery of Pacific Northwest Salmon and Steelhead Listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu, CA, for authorization to take by harassment Pacific harbor seals incidental to a boom exercise

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed rule to modify regulations implementing the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed regulations to authorize the U.S. Navy to take by Level B harassment small numbers of 26 species of marine mammals incidental to military readiness training operations in the Northwest Training Range Complex

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed regulations to authorize the U.S. Navy to take by Level A and B harassment small numbers of eight species of marine mammals incidental to military readiness training operations in the Gulf of Mexico Range Complex

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed rulemaking regarding the List of Fisheries for 2010

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

Draft Natural Resources Science Plan

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from United Launch Alliance for renewal of an authorization to take small numbers of pinnipeds incidental to activities related to the Delta IV/Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, South Vandenberg AFB

National Science Foundation

Request from Robert A. Garrott, Ph.D., for a permit modification

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed aerial surveys of harbor seals in Lake Iliamna, Alaska

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed regulations to authorize the U.S. Navy to take small numbers of five species of marine mammals by Level B harassment incidental to military readiness training operations in the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Keyport Range Complex

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed rule regarding the Hawaii-based shallow-set longline fishery

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center for amendment of an existing permit

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from Russell Fielding to import biological specimens from Risso’s spinner, and spotted dolphins and short-finned pilot whales from St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Council on Environmental Quality

Developing an interagency ocean policy

Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology

Planned update of "Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the United States for the Next Decade"

National Marine Fisheries Service

Requests from multiple applicants for permits to conduct research on threatened and endangered Steller sea lions and depleted northern fur seals

Department of Commerce

Continuation of reporting requirements relative to federally controlled fisheries

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Shell Offshore, Inc., and Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc., for authorization to take by harassment marine mammals incidental to seismic surveys in the Chukchi Sea

National Parks Conservation Association/ Sierra Club

Intent to conduct a review of the effects of oyster farming in Drake’s Estero on harbor seals

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from University of Illinois, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, to import biological samples from manatees, dugongs, sea otters, marine otters, walruses, and polar bears

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Scripps Institution of Oceanography to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to ocean-bottom seismic surveys in the Pacific Ocean

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Gregory Bossart, Ph.D., for a permit to conduct scientific research on bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory for a permit to take polar bears and walruses by harassment incidental to conducting aerial surveys in the Chukchi and Bering Seas

Department of Commerce

Continuation of reporting requirements relative to the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Neptune LNG, LLC, for authorization to take by harassment seals, toothed whales, and baleen whales incidental to operation of a liquefied natural gas port in Massachusetts Bay

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory for authorization to take by harassment small numbers of marine mammals incidental to a marine seismic survey in the northeast Pacific Ocean

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, for amendment of a permit to conduct research on Pacific walruses

National Science Foundation

Request from Stacy Kim under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 to launch a remotely operated vehicle under the Ross Ice Shelf, White Island, Antarctica

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposal to issue regulations to authorize the U.S. Navy to take marine mammals incidental to activities at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City, Florida

National Marine Fisheries Service

Planned postponement of the 2009 dolphin and ecosystem assessment research cruises in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Whitlow W. L. Au, Ph.D., for amendment of a permit to tag cetaceans and conduct acoustic playback studies on the effects of noise in cetacean behavior in waters off Hawaii

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Ocean World to import three captive-born female California sea lions from Germany for public display

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to military readiness training operations in the Gulf of Mexico Range Complex

Department of Commerce

Continuation of reporting requirements relative to the incidental take of marine mammals in commercial fisheries

Department of Commerce

Continuation of reporting requirements relative to issuance of permits to take marine mammals

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Five-year review of the status of the southern sea otter under the Endangered Species Act

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed rule to authorize the Port of Anchorage to harass small numbers of marine mammals incidental to a five-year marine terminal redevelopment project

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Mirage Casino-Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, to import two adult male captive-born bottlenose dolphins from Bermuda

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, for amendment of a permit for research on polar bears

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed rule regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities and bycatch of protected living marine resources

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center for amendment of a permit authorizing harassment of harbor seals and gray seals incidental to collection of scats and harbor seal pup carcasses

National Marine Fisheries Service

Advance notice of proposed rulemaking on designation of critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Peter Tyack, Ph.D., for a scientific research permit to harass various species of beaked whales and large delphinids

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the U.S. Air Force, 30th Space Wing, to harass Pacific harbor seals incidental to proposed scientific research at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory for amendment of a permit to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to scientific research

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed regulations to authorize the Naval Air Weapons Station to take three species of marine mammals by Level B harassment incidental to launch activities near San Nicolas Island, California

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request for reconsideration of the Service’s denial of requests to import polar bear trophies from Canada under an enhancement permit authorization

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Navy for promulgation of regulations to authorize the incidental take of marine mammals relative to military readiness training operations in the Marina Islands Range Complex

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Navy for promulgation of regulations to authorize the incidental take of marine mammals relative to military readiness training operations in the Cherry Point Range Complex

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the Alaska Museum of Natural History for a public display permit for a sea otter skeleton

National Science Foundation

Request from Cindy Lee Van Dover for modification of a permit to export vertebrae from a North Atlantic right whale to Antarctica

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Navy for promulgation of regulations to authorize the incidental take of marine mammals relative to military readiness training operations in the Northwest Training Range Complex

Department of State

Urging commitment of funds to support efforts to conserve and recover the vaquita in the Gulf of California

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Karen Terio, D.V.M., Ph.D., for a scientific research permit to import samples from up to 200 cetaceans and pinnipeds from locations outside the United States

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Regarding the deaths of three sea otters under a permit issued to the U.S. Geological Survey

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request for an incidental harassment authorization from Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge and Algonquin Gas Transmission relative to operating a liquid natural gas port facility and associated pipeline

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center for amendment of permit authorizing harassment of short-beaked and long-beaked common dolphins during vessel and aerial surveys and by bio-sampling

Minerals Management Service

Draft environmental impact statement on the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas Oil and Gas Lease Sales

U.S. Navy

Draft environmental impact statement on proposed naval activities in the Mariana Islands Range Complex

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory for amendment of a permit and a request from LGL Alaska Research Associates for a scientific research permit for work related to Cook Inlet beluga whales

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Ann Zoidis for amendment of a scientific research permit to authorize the taking by harassment of up to 100 minke whales annually

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, for a scientific research permit to obtain or receive samples from up to 250 manatees annually

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Niladri Basu, Ph.D., for a scientific research permit to obtain and import tissue samples from polar bears taken by indigenous hunters in Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Niladri Basu, Ph.D., for a scientific research permit to obtain and import marine mammal tissue samples from Denmark

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Proposed critical habitat for the southwest Alaska distinct population segment of northern sea otters

Naval Facilities Engineering Command

Draft environmental impact statement/overseas environmental impact statement regarding training activities at the Northwest Training Range Complex

Naval Facilities Engineering Command

Draft environmental impact statement/overseas environmental impact statement regarding training activities at the Navy's Gulf of Mexico Range Complex

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Charles Grossman, Ph.D.,  for renewal of a scientific research permit for work on manatees

National Science Foundation

Request from Ross D.E. MacPhee, Ph.D., to modify a permit issued under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 to allow collection of marine mammal bones and teeth

National Science Foundation

Request from Robert Pitman, to modify a permit issued under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 to allow collection of unidentified prey items

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Mark Baumgartner, Ph.D., for amendment of a scientific research permit to authorize tagging of several species of large whales in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from SeaWorld, Inc., for extension and amendment of permit authorizing permanent maintenance of a non-releasable, rehabilitated Guadalupe fur seal

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request for scientific research permit, James Hain, Ph.D., for studies involving large whales, including North Atlantic right whales

National Marine Fisheries Service

Petition from Center for Biological Diversity for a ban on importing swordfish and swordfish products from certain countries under section 101(a)(2) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed “Policy and Guidance for Implementation of the Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research Permits and Grants Program”

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request for an incidental harassment authorization from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory relative to marine seismic surveys in the South and East China Seas and the Philippines

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request for an incidental harassment authorization from CGGVeritas relative to a geophysical and seismic survey in the U.S. Beaufort Sea

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request for an incidental harassment authorization from the Port of Anchorage relative to Phase II of a five-year marine terminal redevelopment project

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request for an incidental harassment authorization from the U.S. Navy relative to proposed training activities in the Undersea Warfare Training Range off the U.S. East Coast

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed regulations to authorize the U.S. Navy to take six cetacean species incidental to training activities in the Jacksonville (FL) Range Complex

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Proposed amendment to Animal Welfare Act regulations to add a new section requiring contingency planning and training at research facilities and by dealers, exhibitors, intermediate handlers, and carriers

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed regulations to authorize the U.S. Navy to take marine mammals incidental to training activities in the Virginia Cape study area

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the U.S. Geological Survey to export frozen tissue samples from northern sea otters found dead or dying along the coasts of Washington and Alaska

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed regulations pertaining to the activities of the 30th Space Wing, U.S. Air Force, incidental to activities at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California