[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 198 (Thursday, October 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53209-53210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25824]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 082196A]


Marine Mammals; Permit No. 898 (P772#65)

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

ACTION: Issuance of amendment.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that on September 12, 1996 permit no. 
898, issued to The National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest 
Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA 92038, was amended.

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s):
    Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Suite 13130 Silver Spring, 
MD 20910 (301/713-2289);
    Director, Southwest Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 
West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-
4001); and
    Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, Southwest Region, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822-2396 
(808/973-2987).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment has been issued 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 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the provisions of Sec. 222.25 of the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR Part 222).
    The permittee is authorized to capture, restrain, sedate, and 
instrument up to 25 adult and subadult Hawaiian monk seals. Twelve of 
these animals (either adult or subadult males) may be instrumented with 
portable camcorders.

[[Page 53210]]

The permit has been amended to allow for flexibility in the use of 
currently authorized instruments (i.e., satellite-linked time-depth 
recorders using ARGOS technology; satellite-linked time-depth recorders 
using Global Positioning technology (GPS); and video cameras) on the 11 
monk seals remaining to be instrumented at French Frigate Shoals. These 
animals may be instrumented with satellite-linked time-depth recorders, 
GPS units, or camcorders. This amendment involves no increase in the 
originally authorized take.
    Issuance of this amended permit as required by the ESA was based on 
a finding that such amendment: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) 
will not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is 
the subject of this amended permit; and (3) is consistent with the 
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: October 3, 1996.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits & Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-25824 Filed 10-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F