[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 44 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)] [Notices] [Page 10258] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-5479] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 022497D] Marine Mammals AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Issuance of scientific research permit no. 1029 (815-1312) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Mr. William G. Gilmartin, Hawaii Wildlife Fund, 55-472A Palekana Street, Laie, Hawaii 96762, has been issued a permit to ``take'' by Level A and Level B harassment, Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) for purposes of scientific research. ADDRESSES: The permit 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, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289); Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4016); and Protected Species Program Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, Southwest Region, NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822- 2396 (808/973-2987). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 18, 1996, notice was published in the Federal Register (61 FR 58676) that the above-named applicant had submitted a request for a scientific research permit to ``take'' by Level A and Level B harassment Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) from the population at Midway Atoll. The research will be conducted over an 5-year period and will involve census observations, bleach marking, pup tagging/ measuring, disentanglement, necropsies, and scat collections. The objective of the research is to study the natural history and behavior of monk seals at Midway Atoll. The requested permit has been issued 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 (ESA) 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). Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the subject of this permit; and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Dated: February 24, 1997. Ann D. Terbush, Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-5479 Filed 3-5-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F