[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 98 (Monday, May 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25209-25210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12531]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 051096E]


Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Receipt of application to modify permit no. 987 (P598).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Jim Darling, Box 384, Tofino, 
B.C., Canada V0R 2Z0, has requested a modification to Permit No. 987.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 19, 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); and
    Director, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. 
Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
    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 Permit Holder is currently authority to take (i.e., harass) up 
to 200 humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the course of 
behavioral and photo-identification studies and biopsy sampling, in the 
waters around the main Hawaiian Islands, primarily off of Maui, Hawaii, 
over a period of 2 years. The purpose of the research is to collect 
genetic information that will, among other things, determine the sex 
and behavior patterns of individual humpback whales involved in 
``singing'' behavior.
    The Holder is now requesting that the Permit be modified to: (1) 
Increase the total number of harassment takes authorized from 200 to up 
to 1000 animals annually, up to 100 of which may be biopsy sampled 
annually; (2) increase the duration of the permit from two to three 
years; (3) authorize the

[[Page 25210]]

biopsy of 10 cows with calves or yearlings (biopsy of calves/yearlings 
is not requested); (4) opportunistically collect biopsy samples from 
dead stranded whales and retrieve humpback whale carcasses for 
necropsy; (5) add Southeast Alaska, specifically Frederick Sound and 
Stephens Passage as research locations; and (6) in the requested Alaska 
locations, allow the take by harassment of up to 500 humpback whales 
annually, up to 100 of which may be biopsy sampled annually.
    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: May 13, 1996.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-12531 Filed 5-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F