[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32304-32305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15095]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 061395A]


Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for a scientific research permit (P5H) 
and applications to modify permits (P129J and P281C).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Donald B. Siniff, Department 
of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1987 Upper 
Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108 (P5H), has applied in due form for a 
permit to take Antarctic pinnipeds for purposes of scientific research.
    Dr. Bruce R. Mate, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State 
University, Newport, OR 97365-5296 (P129J) has applied for a 
modification to Permit No. 841 to increase the number of blue whales 
(Balaenoptera musculus) to be tagged over the next 4 years from 50 to 
55.
    Mr. Jonathan Stern, Marine Mammal Research Program, Texas A&M 
University, Galveston, TX 77551 (P281C), has applied for a modification 
to Permit No. 934 to biopsy sample up to 90 killer whales (Orcinus 
orca) in the inland waters of Washington State and to inadvertently 
harass up to 300.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 21, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289).
    Application P5H. Director, Northeast Region, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 (508/281-9250).
    Modifications P129J and P281C. Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 
501 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4001); and
    Director, Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, 
Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (206/526-6150).
    Written data or views, or requests for a public hearing on this 
request, should be submitted to the Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910, within 30 days of the 
publication of this notice. Those individuals requesting a hearing 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this particular 
request would be appropriate.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, the Secretary of Commerce is forwarding copies of these 
applications to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of 
Scientific Advisors.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit and requests to modify 
permits are requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act 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 Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, 
importing, and exporting of endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR part 
222).
    Dr. Siniff (P5H) requests a permit to: Tag/release annually, up to 
900 Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) and take by harassment up to 
2000; tag/release up to 20 each of leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), 
crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus), Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossii), 
southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), and Antarctic fur seal 
(Arctocephalus gazella); collect blood samples from up to 100 Weddell 
seals and collect tissue and tooth samples from seals found dead.
    Dr. Bruce R. Mate (P129J) was issued Permit No. 841 on June 4, 
1994, to inadvertently harass annually up to 200 blue whales 
(Balaenoptera musculus), 200 fin (B. physalus), 200 humpback whales 
(Megaptera novaeangliae), and 200 gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). 
Up to 50 each of these species may be satellite-tagged, biopsy sampled, 
photographed, and observed over a 5-year period. Research is authorized 
to be conducted along the western coast of the United States and in 
Hawaiian waters.
    Mr. S. Jonathan Stern was issued Permit No. 934 on August 3, 1994, 
to inadvertently harass annually up to 1000 minke whales (Balaenoptera 
acutorostrata), 400 blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), 100 fin (B. 
physalus), 50 sei whales (B. borealis), 600 humpback whales (Megaptera 
novaeangliae), and 500 gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), and 300 
killer whales (Orcinus orca). Up to 150 minke whales and 30 each of the 
other species are authorized to be photographed and biopsy sampled. 
Minke whales may be taken from the Gulf of Alaska to the California/
Mexican border. All other species are taken only off central 
California.

    [[Page 32305]] Dated: June 13, 1995.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-15095 Filed 6-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F