[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 109 (Friday, June 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 31083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14776]



[[Page 31083]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 052397C]


Marine Mammals; Photography Permit (File No. 867-1388)

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 Moana Productions, Inc., 311 
Portlock Road, Honolulu, HI 96825, has applied in due form for a permit 
to take several species of non-threatened, non-endangered small 
cetaceans for purposes of commercial photography.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4001);
    Protected Species Program Manager, Pacific Area Office, NMFS, 2570 
Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822-2396 (808-973-2987); and
    Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive 
Center Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813/570-5301).
    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 particular request 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 Sec. 104(c)(6) 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). Section 
104(c)(6) provides for photography for educational or commercial 
purposes involving non-endangered and non-threatened marine mammals in 
the wild. NMFS is currently working on proposed regulations to 
implement this provision. However, in the meantime, NMFS has received 
and is processing this request as a ``pilot'' application for Level B 
Harassment of non-listed and non-depleted marine mammals for 
photographic purposes. The applicant seeks authorization to photograph 
the following marine mammals: bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 
spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), pantropical spotted dolphins 
(Stenella attenuata), common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), Risso's 
dolphins (Grampus griseus), rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), 
short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), false killer 
whales (Pseudorca crassidens), pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata), 
and melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) in Hawaii and South 
Carolina waters. The applicant proposes to initiate this work upon 
receipt of the permit.

    Dated: May 27, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-14776 Filed 6-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F