Request from Terrie Williams, Ph.D., for amendment of an existing permit.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
2010 Marine Mammal Commission Letters and Agency Responses
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2010 Commission letters are provided as PDF files below. Download times of large PDFs will vary based on connection speed. Additional information on PDFs.
Please note that Agency responses can be found in Appendix A of the Commission’s 2010-2011 annual report.
Request for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to construction on the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Draft environmental assessment for a marine geophysical survey off Costa Rica.
National Science Foundation
See notation at top of page.
Request from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for authorization to conduct research on North Atlantic right whales.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Scott D. Kraus, Ph.D., New England Aquarium, to conduct research on North Atlantic right whales.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from ABR, Inc. Environmental Research and Services for authorization to take by harassment 11 species of marine mammals in Alaska waters.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Proposed creation of a research area within the sanctuary for purposes of comparative ecosystem research.
Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
See notation at top of page.
Interim final rule on increased safety measures for energy development on the outer continental shelf.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement
See notation at top of page.
Request from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center to amend an existing permit.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Petition to designate the eastern North Pacific population of gray whales as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Draft supplemental environmental impact statement for the Chukchi Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement
See notation at top of page.
Draft programmatic environmental impact statement on Foundation-supported marine seismic research.
National Science Foundation
See notation at top of page.
Proposed authorization to take certain endangered and threatened stocks of marine mammals incidental to Alaska groundfish fisheries.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Request from O. Lyamin, University of California at Los Angeles, for authorization to import brain samples from fur seals.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement on possible new recovery actions for Hawaiian monk seals.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Review of categorical exclusions for outer continental shelf decisions.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement
See notation at top of page.
Request from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for renewal and amendment of an existing permit.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Draft 2010 stock assessment reports for marine mammals.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
See notation at top of page.
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.
U.S. Department of Energy
See notation at top of page.
Request from Randall S. Wells, Ph.D., for authorization to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins off Florida.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Gulf Coast Restoration Task Force.
Environmental Protection Agency
See notation at top of page.
Request from Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc., for authorization to maintain a juvenile male walrus.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from the Service’s Marine Mammals Management Office for renewal and amendment of an existing permit involving polar bears.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Request to revise the U.S. Navy’s letter of authorization regarding missile launches at San Nicolas Island, California.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Review of management plan for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
National Ocean Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Thomas Postel for authorization to harass up 100 Florida manatees during filming activities in Blue Spring State Park, Florida.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
National Climate Assessment
U.S. Global Change Research Program
See notation at top of page.
Request from Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to construction of the Knik Arm Bridge, Alaska.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., for authorization to conduct research on leopard seals in Antarctica.
National Science Foundation
See notation at top of page.
Request from George Church, Ph.D., for authorization to acquire and maintain cells from stranded bowhead whales.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
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.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Iskande Larkin, Ph.D., for renewal and amendment of an existing permit involving West Indian manatees.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., to modify an existing permit involving Weddell seals.
National Science Foundation
See notation at top of page.
Request from Pennsylvania State University for authorization to import blood samples from polar bears taken in Norway.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Priorities for ocean pollution research.
U.S. Coast Guard
See notation at top of page.
Draft biological opinion for the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries section 7 consultation.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Request from Gregory D. Bossart, V.M.D., for amendment of an existing permit involving bottlenose dolphins.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., to amend an existing permit involving manatees.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Advance notice of proposed rulemaking concerning imports of fish and fish products.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from U.S. Geological Survey to amend an existing permit involving polar bears.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the List of Fisheries for 2011.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from the North Slope Borough for amendment of an existing permit involving polar bears.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Vince Bacalan, American University, for authorization to obtain samples of manatee skeletal material.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from the Seattle Aquarium for authorization to import tissue samples from northern sea otters.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Restoration Center to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to construction activities in Monterey County, California.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Exploratorium for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to pile driving activities in San Francisco, California.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
The U.S. Navy’s Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program.
U.S. Navy, Chief of Naval Operations
See notation at top of page.
Draft Next-Generation Strategic Plan.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
See notation at top of page.
Need for consultation with Alaska Natives on activities that may affect them.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
See notation at top of page.
Request from SeaWorld, LLC, for authorization to import one male short-finned pilot whale.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Request from Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, LLC, for renewal of an existing incidental harassment authorization.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Request from Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., for amendment of an existing permit involving crabeater, Weddell, and Ross seals.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
U.S. Navy’s revised draft marine mammal monitoring plan for missile launch activities on San Nicolas Island, California.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from James T. Harvey, Ph.D., for amendment of an existing permit involving harbor seals.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Bruce Mate, Ph.D., for authorization to take gray whales by deliberate harassment and six other marine mammal species by incidental harassment.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Native involvement in co-management efforts in Alaska.
Association of Village Council Presidents
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Request from Michael Adkesson, D.V.M., Chicago Zoological Society, to import and possess samples collected from South American fur seals.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Draft Arctic Vision and Strategy document.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
See notation at top of page.
Request from Peter Tyack, Ph.D., to amend an existing permit authorizing research on non-threatened, non-endangered cetaceans.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Request from Terrie Williams, Ph.D., to amend an existing research permit.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from the Institute for Marine Mammal Science to acquire stranded California sea lions for public display.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County for renewal of an existing permit.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Alaska Department of Transportation and Aleutians East Borough for authorization to harass northern sea otters.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Alaska Science Center, USGS, to amend an existing permit.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Five-year review of population status of southern resident killer whales.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program, 2012–2017.
Minerals Management Service
See notation at top of page.
Draft environmental impact statement on proposed management alternatives for the American lobster fishery in U.S. waters.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Permits for oil-spill related marine mammal research in the Gulf of Mexico.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Efforts to recover the Cook Inlet beluga whale population.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Shell Offshore Inc. for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment in the northwest Pacific Ocean.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Efforts to prevent the extinction of the Hawaiian monk seal and to conserve cetaceans in the North Pacific Ocean.
Department of Commerce
See notation at top of page.
Request from Neptune LNG LLC for authorization to take marine mammals, including the North Atlantic right whale, by harassment.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Draft environmental impact statement on proposed resumption of year-round firing opportunities at Fort Richardson, Alaska.
Department of the Army
See notation at top of page.
Request from National Marine Mammal Laboratory to take marine mammals by harassment, various locations.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from University of Florida to acquire, import, export and maintain sample parts from cetaceans and pinnipeds.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Georgia Aquarium to import captive-born bottlenose dolphins from the Bahamas and Bermuda.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from the Chicago Zoological Society to import two captive bottlenose dolphins from Bermuda.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Protection of spinner dolphins in the Hawaiian archipelago.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Information collection requirements related to marine mammal stranding program.
Department of Commerce
See notation at top of page.
Information collection requirements related to the incidental take of marine mammals.
Department of Commerce
See notation at top of page.
Guidelines for safely deterring polar bears.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Shell Offshore, Inc., for authorization to take marine mammals by harassment.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Daniel Costa, Ph.D., for authorization to harass northern elephant seals.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game for authorization to take cetaceans by harassment.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Development of a national aquaculture policy.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
See notation at top of page.
Agency responsibilities for cetacean research and management in the Pacific Islands region.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Agency involvement in Hawaiian monk recovery in the Kalaupapa National Historical Park.
National Park Service
See notation at top of page.
Agency responsibilities for Hawaiian monk seal recovery efforts.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Agency involvement with the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
See notation at top of page.
Agency contributions to Hawaiian monk seal recovery efforts.
Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources
See notation at top of page.
Agency contributions to Hawaiian monk seal recovery efforts.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Coast Guard contributions to Hawaiian monk seal recovery efforts.
U.S. Coast Guard
See notation at top of page.
Request from B. Woodward for authorization to take cetaceans by harassment during development and testing of tagging devices.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Preliminary revised 5-year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007–2010.
Minerals Management Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Sea World of Texas for authorization to import a male beluga whale from the Vancouver Aquarium.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from the Louisville Zoo for authorization to import a female South African fur seal from the Toronto Zoo.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Sea Studios Foundation for authorization to take by Level B harassment up to 15 southern sea otters during filming activities.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Daniel Costa, Ph.D., to amend a scientific research permit to study northern elephant seals.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Continued development of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System.
U.S. Geological Survey
See notation at top of page.
Request from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory for authorization to continue research on seals in northern oceans.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Robert Rockwell for authorization to import hair and scat samples from Canadian polar bears.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Reestablishment of Florida Manatee Recovery Team and warm-water task force.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Continuation of reporting requirements involving import/export of fishing, wildlife, and plants.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Permit and notification requirements related to the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Office of Management and Budget
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Revision of an earlier permit request from NMFS Office of Science and Technology for authorization to conduct research on cetaceans.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Andrew Read, Ph.D., for amendment of existing permit involving tagging beaked whales in the Southern Ocean.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., for authorization to harass leopard seals during research on prey intake rates.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement on the effects of oil and gas activities in the Arctic Ocean.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Establishment and application of categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Council on Environmental Quality
See notation at top of page.
Request from Florida Atlantic University for authorization to harass cetaceans during surveys in the Straits of Florida and Gulf Stream Current.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Request from FWS Jacksonville (FL) field office for renewal of an enhancement permit involving Florida manatees.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Support for a resolution to develop public service announcements for use on commercial flights to Hawaii on importance of protecting the Hawaiian monk seal.
Hawaii State Senate
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Notice of intent to prepare a recovery plan for the Cook Inlet beluga whale.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Proposal to authorize three-year incidental take of humpback whales in Hawaii-based longline fisheries..
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Continuation of reporting requirements regarding interactions between southern sea otters and the Pacific sardine fishery.
Department of Commerce
See notation at top of page.
Proposed survey of public perceptions and attitudes about Hawaiian monk seals.
Department of Commerce
See notation at top of page.
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.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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.
Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources
See notation at top of page.
Continuation of reporting requirements under the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act.
Department of Commerce
See notation at top of page.
Proposed issuance of an exempted fishing permit to test fixed fishing gear for lobsters.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Proposed rule to restrict entry into U.S. ports by vessels that engage in illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Proposal to survey visitors to national wildlife refuges to gather information on use.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Proposed designation of critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet (Alaska) stock of beluga whales.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Suggested scope of activities for the False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Interim Framework for Effective Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning.
Council on Environmental Quality
See notation at top of page.
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 Science Foundation
See notation at top of page.
Planned status review of the insular population of false killers whales in Hawaii.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Proposed reporting requirements for the National Ocean Recreation Expenditure Survey.
Department of Commerce
See notation at top of page.
Permit request from the Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science, Alaska SeaLife Center, regarding the transport and maintenance of marine mammals.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Permit request from the Alaska SeaLife Center, for authorization to acquire, possess, import, and export samples taken from cetaceans and pinnipeds.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Draft environmental impact statement/overseas environmental impact statement regarding proposed Navy activities in the Gulf of Alaska.
Navy Facilities Engineering Command
See notation at top of page.
Continuation of reporting requirements under the Endangered Species Act relative to importing or exporting fish, wildlife, and plants.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Permit request from SeaWorld, Inc., to import a male pilot whale from Kamogawa SeaWorld in Japan to SeaWorld San Diego.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
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.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Permit request from Beth Shapiro to obtain and import blood and tissue samples collected from polar bears in Canada.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
Permit request from Pontecorvo Productions to take up to 20 polar bears by Level B harassment during filming activities in the Beaufort Sea area.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Proposed rule and environmental assessment of measures to protect killer whales in Washington’s inland waters.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Revised final draft of the state’s endangered and threatened species listing process rule.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
See notation at top of page.
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.
Fish and Wildlife Service
See notation at top of page.
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
See notation at top of page.
Permit amendment request from James T. Harvey, Ph.D., involving research on harbor seals.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Permit request from Douglas Nowacek, Ph.D., to take by harassment annually up to 80 North Atlantic right whales.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.
Proposed changes to regulations governing the operations and administration of regional fishery management councils.
National Marine Fisheries Service
See notation at top of page.