[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14115-14116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7530]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 031797C]


Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit (PHF# 782-1349)

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Howard W. Braham, Director, 
National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 
NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Seattle, Washington 
98115, has applied in due form for a permit to take Dall's porpoise 
(Phocoenoides dalli) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 24, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):

[[Page 14116]]

    Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point 
Way, NE BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (206-526-6150).
    Written data or views, or requests for a public hearing on this 
request, should be submitted to the Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the 
specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be 
appropriate.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit 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 application requests authorization to capture, restrain, tag, 
and release up to 125 Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) and to 
unintentionally harass up to 300 Dall's porpoise during capture 
operations, in Washington and Oregon waters, over a five-year period. 
The purpose of the research is deploy, monitor, and evaluate improved 
tag designs in order to obtain movement and dive behavior information 
on Dall's porpoise.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: March 18, 1997
Art Jeffers,
Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-7530 Filed 3-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F