[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 42 (Friday, March 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 8043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4751]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 022696B]


Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Receipt of application to modify permit no. 873 (P77(2) #63).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, CA 
92038-0271, has requested a modification to Permit No. 873.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 1, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The modification request 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);
Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, 
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4001); and
Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, NMFS, NOAA, 2570 Dole Street, Room 
106, Honolulu, HI 9682-2396 (808/973-2987).

    Written data or views, or requests for a public hearing on this 
request should be submitted to the Chief, Permits Division, F/PR1, 
Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should 
set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this particular request 
would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannie Drevenak, 301/713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification is requested under 
the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and 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 parts 217-222).
    The Permit Holder is currently authorized to harass (i.e., through 
vessel approach, photogrammetry, and photographic identification, and 
tissue biopsy) several marine mammal species in Pacific, Southern, and 
Indian Oceans, over a 5-year period.
    The Permit Holder is now requesting emergency modification of the 
Permit for authorization to increase the number of humpback whales 
(Megaptera novaeangliae) to be biopsy sampled from 20 to 100 for 1996, 
including 15 cow/calf pairs (i.e., 30 animals), in Hawaiian waters 
during the 1996 field season. In light of the Permittee's need to begin 
sampling activities in March 1996, or otherwise lose a unique research 
opportunity, we are considering whether this action meets legal 
criteria for granting the requested modification prior to the close of 
the 30-day comment period.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: February 26, 1996.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-4751 Filed 2-26-96; 4:53 pm]
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