[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 193 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25367]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 082796F]


Marine Mammals; Permit No. 866 (P537)

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

ACTION: Issuance of amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a request for amendment of 
scientific research permit No. 866 submitted by Mr. Fred A. Sharpe, 
Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, 
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C. Canada V5A 1S6, has been 
granted.

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Suite 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289); and
    Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-
1668 (907/586-7221).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 26, 1996, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (61 FR 33096) that an amendment of permit no. 866, 
issued July 15, 1993, had been requested by the above-named individual. 
The requested amendment has been granted under the authority of the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et 
seq.), the provisions of Sec. 216.39 of the Regulations Governing the 
Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA 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 
amended permit is effective upon signature by NMFS and the individual 
named above.
    Permit 866 authorizes the permit holder to: Harass (i.e., observe/
photo-identify, conduct side-scanning sonar activities) up to 1000 
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) per year, up to 18 of which 
may be fitted with suction cup time-depth recorders annually through 
September 30, 1997. The permit holder is also authorized to harass up 
to 100 killer whales (Orcinus orca) annually on an opportunistic basis 
during the proposed humpback whale studies. Research activities are 
authorized to be conducted between Dixon Entrance and Cross Sound.
    The Permit has now been amended to authorize the conduct of 
playback studies on up to 280 humpback whales annually, in the waters 
of Chatham Strait and Frederick Sound, Alaska. Although playback 
activities were requested to be conducted over a three-year period, the 
permit expires on September 30, 1997. The permittee has been advised 
that in order to continue activities beyond that date, a permit 
extension or a new permit will be required.

    Dated: August 29, 1996.
William Windom,
Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-25367 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F