[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 11159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5976]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 030497F]


Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Issuance of scientific research permit no. 1031 (P623)

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that D. Ann Pabst, Ph.D., University of 
North Carolina at Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, North 
Carolina 28403-3297, is hereby authorized to take cetaceans 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);
    Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, One Blackburn 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 (508/281-9250); and
    Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, 9721 
Executive Center Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813/570-5301).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 25, 1996, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (61 FR 59863) that the above-named applicant 
had submitted a request for a scientific research permit to harass 
during photo-identification studies, acoustic recording, and aerial and 
vessel surveys, up to 1,200 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) 
annually over a five year period. In addition, the following non-target 
species may be harassed during the course of the research: North 
Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), fin whales (Balaenoptera 
physalus), Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), harbor 
porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), beaked whales (Mesplodon sp.), and 
pelagic dolphins (Stenella sp.). 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: March 5, 1997.
Art Jeffers,
Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-5976 Filed 3-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F