Letters - 2010

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Terrie Williams, Ph.D., for amendment of an existing permit

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to construction on the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge

National Science Foundation

Draft environmental assessment for a marine geophysical survey off Costa Rica

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for authorization to conduct research on North Atlantic right whales

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Scott D. Kraus, Ph.D., New England Aquarium, to conduct research on North Atlantic right whales

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from ABR, Inc. Environmental Research and Services for authorization to take by harassment 11 species of marine mammals in Alaska waters

Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Proposed creation of a research area within the sanctuary for purposes of comparative ecosystem research

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement

Interim final rule on increased safety measures for energy development on the outer continental shelf

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center to amend an existing permit

National Marine Fisheries Service

Petition to designate the eastern North Pacific population of gray whales as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement

Draft supplemental environmental impact statement for the Chukchi Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193

National Science Foundation

Draft programmatic environmental impact statement on Foundation-supported marine seismic research

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed authorization to take certain endangered and threatened stocks of marine mammals incidental to Alaska groundfish fisheries

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to take gray whales, bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and harbor seals incidental to military training operations at the Silver Strand Training Complex, California

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from O. Lyamin, University of California at Los Angeles, for authorization to import brain samples from fur seals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to military training operations in the Gulf of Alaska

National Marine Fisheries Service

Intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement on possible new recovery actions for Hawaiian monk seals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the U.S. Air Force for authorization to take small numbers of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins incidental to military training operations in the Gulf of Mexico

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement

Review of categorical exclusions for outer continental shelf decisions

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for renewal and amendment of an existing permit

National Marine Fisheries Service

Draft 2010 stock assessment reports for marine mammals

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Implementation of the Endangered Species Act

U.S. Department of Energy

National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Randall S. Wells, Ph.D., for authorization to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins off Florida

Environmental Protection Agency

Gulf Coast Restoration Task Force

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc., for authorization to maintain a juvenile male walrus

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the Service's Marine Mammals Management Office for renewal and amendment of an existing permit involving polar bears

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Restoration Center for authorization to take harbor seals incidental to construction activities in Monterey County, California

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request to revise the U.S. Navy’s letter of authorization regarding missile launches at San Nicolas Island, California

National Ocean Service

Review of management plan for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Thomas Postel for authorization to harass up 100 Florida manatees during filming activities in Blue Spring State Park, Florida

U.S. Global Change Research Program

National Climate Assessment

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to construction of the Knik Arm Bridge, Alaska

National Science Foundation

Request from Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., for authorization to conduct research on leopard seals in Antarctica

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from George Church, Ph.D., for authorization to acquire and maintain cells from stranded bowhead whales

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to a marine seismic survey in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from James T. Harvey, Ph.D., for authorization to conduct research on blue, fin, humpback, and gray whales and to take six other marine mammal species by incidental harassment off California, Oregon, and Washington

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Iskande Larkin, Ph.D., for renewal and amendment of an existing permit involving West Indian manatees

National Science Foundation

Request from Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., to modify an existing permit involving Weddell seals

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Pennsylvania State University for authorization to import blood samples from polar bears taken in Norway

U.S. Coast Guard

Priorities for ocean pollution research

National Marine Fisheries Service

Draft biological opinion for the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries section 7 consultation

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Washington State Department of Natural Resources for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to removal of pilings and structures in Puget Sound

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Gregory D. Bossart, V.M.D., for amendment of an existing permit involving bottlenose dolphins

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., to amend an existing permit involving manatees

National Marine Fisheries Service

Advance notice of proposed rulemaking concerning imports of fish and fish products

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from U.S. Geological Survey to amend an existing permit  involving polar bears

National Marine Fisheries Service

Notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the List of Fisheries for  2011

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the North Slope Borough for amendment of an existing permit involving polar bears

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Vince Bacalan, American University, for authorization to obtain samples of manatee skeletal material

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the Seattle Aquarium for authorization to import tissue samples from northern sea otters

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Restoration Center to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to construction activities in Monterey County, California

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Exploratorium for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to pile driving activities in San Francisco, California

U.S. Navy, Chief of Naval Operations

The U.S. Navy’s Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Draft Next-Generation Strategic Plan

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Need for consultation with Alaska Natives on activities that may affect them

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from SeaWorld, LLC, for authorization to import one male short-finned pilot whale

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Bluewater Wind LLC for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to pile- driving activities off Delaware and New Jersey

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, LLC, for renewal of an existing incidental harassment authorization

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the U.S. Geological Survey for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to a marine seismic survey in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., for amendment of an existing permit involving crabeater, Weddell, and Ross seals

National Marine Fisheries Service

U.S. Navy’s revised draft marine mammal monitoring plan for missile launch activities on San Nicolas Island, California

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from James T. Harvey, Ph.D., for amendment of an existing permit involving harbor seals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Bruce Mate, Ph.D., for authorization to take gray whales by deliberate harassment and six other marine mammal species by incidental harassment

Association of Village Council Presidents

Native involvement in co-management efforts in Alaska

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the National Museum of Natural History to collect, import, export and possess salvaged specimens from all species of marine mammals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Michael Adkesson, D.V.M., Chicago Zoological Society, to import and possess samples collected from South American fur seals

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Draft Arctic Vision and Strategy document

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Peter Tyack, Ph.D., to amend an existing permit authorizing research on non-threatened, non-endangered cetaceans

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Statoil USA E&P for authorization to harass marine mammals incidental to a marine seismic survey in the Chukchi Sea

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Colleen Reichmuth, Ph.D., to amend an existing permit authorizing research on impacts of human sound on marine mammals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Terrie Williams, Ph.D., to amend an existing research permit

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Institute for Marine Mammal Science to acquire stranded California sea lions for public display

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County for renewal of an existing permit

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Alaska Department of Transportation and Aleutians East Borough for authorization to harass northern sea otters

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Alaska Science Center, USGS, to amend an existing permit

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the U.S. Marine Corps for authorization to harass marine mammals incidental to training exercises at the Cherry Point Range Complex

National Marine Fisheries Service

Five-year review of population status of southern resident killer whales

Minerals Management Service

Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program,2012–2017

National Marine Fisheries Service

Draft environmental impact statement on proposed management alternatives for the American lobster fishery in U.S. waters

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permits for oil-spill related marine mammal research in the Gulf of Mexico

National Marine Fisheries Service

Efforts to recover the Cook Inlet beluga whale population

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Shell Offshore Inc. for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment in the northwest Pacific Ocean

Department of Commerce

Efforts to prevent the extinction of the Hawaiian monk seal and to conserve cetaceans in the North Pacific Ocean

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Neptune LNG LLC for authorization to take marine mammals, including the North Atlantic right whale, by harassment

Department of the Army

Draft environmental impact statement on proposed resumption of year-round firing opportunities at Fort Richardson, Alaska

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from National Marine Mammal Laboratory to take marine mammals by harassment, various locations

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from University of Florida to acquire, import, export and maintain sample parts from cetaceans and pinnipeds

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Georgia Aquarium to import captive-born bottlenose dolphins from the Bahamas and Bermuda

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Chicago Zoological Society to import two captive bottlenose dolphins from Bermuda

National Marine Fisheries Service

Protection of spinner dolphins in the Hawaiian archipelago

Department of Commerce

Information collection requirements related to marine mammal stranding program

Department of Commerce

Information collection requirements related to the incidental take of marine mammals

Fish and Wildlife Service

Guidelines for safely deterring polar bears

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Shell Offshore, Inc., for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Daniel Costa, Ph.D., for authorization to harass northern elephant seals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game for authorization to take cetaceans by harassment

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Development of a national aquaculture policy

National Marine Fisheries Service

Agency responsibilities for cetacean research and management in the Pacific Islands region

National Park Service

Agency involvement in Hawaiian monk recovery in the  Kalaupapa National Historical Park

National Marine Fisheries Service

Agency responsibilities for Hawaiian monk seal recovery efforts

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Agency involvement with the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources

Agency contributions to Hawaiian monk seal recovery efforts

Fish and Wildlife Service

Agency contributions to  Hawaiian monk seal recovery efforts

U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Guard contributions to Hawaiian monk seal recovery efforts

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from B. Woodward for authorization to take cetaceans by harassment during development and testing of tagging devices

Minerals Management Service

Preliminary revised 5-year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007–2010

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Sea World of Texas for authorization to import a male beluga whale from the Vancouver Aquarium

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Louisville Zoo for authorization to import a female South African fur seal from the Toronto Zoo

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Sea Studios Foundation for authorization to take by Level B harassment up to 15 southern sea otters during filming activities

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Daniel Costa, Ph.D., to amend a scientific research permit to study northern elephant seals

U.S. Geological Survey

Continued development of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory for authorization to continue research on seals in northern oceans

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from Robert Rockwell for authorization to import hair and scat samples from Canadian polar bears

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from the Service’s Boguerón, Puerto Rico, office for authorization to rescue, rehabilitate, and release Antillean manatees in Puerto Rico

Fish and Wildlife Service

Reestablishment of Florida Manatee Recovery Team and warm-water task force

Fish and Wildlife Service

Continuation of reporting requirements involving import/export of fishing, wildlife, and plants.

Office of Management and Budget

Permit and notification requirements related to the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the Washington State Department of Transportation for authorization to take various species of seals incidental to replacing the Manette Bridge in Bremerton

National Marine Fisheries Service

Revision of an earlier permit request from NMFS Office of Science and Technology for authorization to conduct research on cetaceans

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Andrew Read, Ph.D., for amendment of existing permit involving tagging beaked whales in the Southern Ocean

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., for authorization to harass leopard seals during research on prey intake rates

National Marine Fisheries Service

Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement on the effects of oil and gas activities in the Arctic Ocean

Council on Environmental Quality

Establishment and application of categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Florida Atlantic University for authorization to harass cetaceans during surveys in the Straits of Florida and Gulf Stream Current

Fish and Wildlife Service

Request from FWS Jacksonville (FL) field office for renewal of an enhancement permit involving Florida manatees

Hawaii State Senate

Support for a resolution to develop public service announcements for use on commercial flights to Hawaii on importance of protecting the Hawaiian monk seal

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory for authorization to harass marine mammals incidental to seismic surveys off the Northern Mariana Islands

National Marine Fisheries Service

Notice of intent to prepare a recovery plan for the Cook Inlet beluga whale

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from NMFS Alaska Region for authorization of take of northern fur seals incidental to repairing research towers on St. Paul Island, Alaska

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposal to authorize three-year incidental take of humpback whales in Hawaii-based longline fisheries.

Department of Commerce

Continuation of reporting requirements regarding interactions between southern sea otters and the Pacific sardine fishery

Department of Commerce

Proposed survey of public perceptions and attitudes about Hawaiian monk seals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposal rule to revise and add guidelines for scientific peer review pursuant to National Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources

Permit request from the National Marine Fisheries Service to reduce shark predation on monk seas pups at French Frigate Shoals by the lethal removal of up to 20 Galapagos sharks

Department of Commerce

Continuation of reporting requirements under the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed issuance of an exempted fishing permit to test fixed fishing gear for lobsters

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed rule to restrict entry into U.S. ports by vessels that engage in illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing

Fish and Wildlife Service

Proposal to survey visitors to national wildlife refuges to gather information on use

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed designation of critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet (Alaska) stock of beluga whales

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to take by Level A and B harassment small numbers of 15 species of cetaceans and 5 species of pinnipeds over a five-year period

National Marine Fisheries Service

Suggested scope of activities for the False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from the U.S. Air Force for authorization to take small numbers of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins by Level B harassment in the Gulf of Mexico over a five-year period

Council on Environmental Quality

Interim Framework for Effective Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning

National Science Foundation

Request from Douglas P. Nowacek, Ph.D., for modification of a permit authorizing research on humpback and minke whales under the Antarctic Conservation Act

National Marine Fisheries Service

Planned status review of the insular population of false killers whales in Hawaii

Department of Commerce

Proposed reporting requirements for the National Ocean Recreation Expenditure Survey

Fish and Wildlife Service

Permit request from the Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science, Alaska SeaLife Center, regarding the transport and maintenance of marine mammals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from the Alaska SeaLife Center, for  authorization to acquire, possess, import, and export samples taken from cetaceans and pinnipeds

Navy Facilities Engineering Command

Draft environmental impact statement/overseas environmental impact statement regarding proposed Navy activities in the Gulf of Alaska  

Fish and Wildlife Service

Continuation of reporting requirements under the Endangered Species Act relative to importing or exporting fish, wildlife, and plants

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from SeaWorld, Inc., to import a male pilot whale from Kamogawa SeaWorld in Japan to SeaWorld San Diego

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from California Department of Transportation for authorization to take small numbers of California sea lions and harbor seals by Level B harassment incidental to retrofitting the Antioch Bridge

Fish and Wildlife Service

Permit request from Beth Shapiro to obtain and import blood and tissue samples collected from polar bears in Canada

Fish and Wildlife Service

Permit request from Pontecorvo Productions to take up to 20 polar bears by Level B harassment during filming activities in the Beaufort Sea area

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from Dolphin Quest Hawaii to import two captive-born adult male bottlenose dolphins from Dolphin Quest Bermuda for public display

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed rule and environmental assessment of measures to protect killer whales in Washington’s inland waters

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Revised final draft of the state’s endangered and threatened species listing process rule

Fish and Wildlife Service

Permit request from John Downer Productions to take by Level B harassment an unspecified number of northern sea otters during filming activities in Kachemak Bay, Alaska

National Marine Fisheries Service

Request from California Department of Transportation for authorization to take small numbers of California sea lions, harbor seals, and gray whales by Level B harassment incidental to retrofitting the Dumbarton Bridge

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit amendment request from James T. Harvey, Ph.D.,  involving research on harbor seals

National Marine Fisheries Service

Permit request from Douglas Nowacek, Ph.D., to take by harassment annually up to 80 North Atlantic right whales

National Marine Fisheries Service

Proposed changes to regulations governing the operations and administration of regional fishery management councils