[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35156-35157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16958]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 061697C]


Marine Mammals; (PHF#s 801-1365 and 782-1384)

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following applicants have 
applied in due form for a permit to take marine mammals for purposes of 
scientific research: Dr. William A. Kuperman, Director, Marine Physical 
Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of 
California, San Diego, CA 92152 (Co-investigators: Dr. Gerald L. 
D'Spain and Mr. Aaron Thode); and Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 
National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, 
Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (Principal Investigator: Dr. Howard Braham, Co-
Investigators: Dr. Robert DeLong, Patrick J. Gearin, Merrill E. Gosho, 
David E. Withrow, and Herbert R. Sanborn).

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before July 
30, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289); and
    PHF# 801-1365 (Dr. Kuperman) - Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West 
Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 908023-4213 (310/980-4001).
    PHF# 782-1384 (Dr. Braham, NMML) - Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 
Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (206/526-6150).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these 
applications should be mailed to the Chief, Permits and Documentation 
Division, F/PR1, 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.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301) 713-0376, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Please 
note that comments will not be accepted by email or other electronic 
media. 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 permits are requested 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

[[Page 35157]]

Endangered Species Act 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 222.23).
    Dr. Kuperman (PHF# 801-1365) requests a permit to conduct acoustic 
research to determine its effect on a variety of marine mammal species. 
The specific purposes are to: localize and track marine mammals in 
three dimensions (azimuth, range and depth) by listening to their 
natural call behavior; evaluate the effect of low frequency manmade 
noise on baleen whales; estimate the actual source signature emitted by 
the animals themselves; use the vocalizations as loud sources of 
opportunity to determine properties of the ocean environment; and 
investigate the use of underwater acoustic recordings in marine mammal 
census studies. These activities will occur in California waters.
    Dr. Braham (PHF# 782-1384) requests authorization to take gray 
whales (Eschrichtius robustus), over a 5-year period, in the following 
manner: biopsy sample up to 100; radio tag up to 100; tag with short-
term visual tags up to 150. Additionally, inadvertently harass up to up 
to 50 animals annually. The objectives are to determine: seasonal 
distribution in Washington State waters; habitat utilization in the 
Strait of Juan de Fuca and the northern Washington coast; duration of 
their stay in Washington and the timing of their departure for the 
southbound migration; and the level of organochlorine pollutants in 
whales.
    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: June 23, 1997.
Art Jeffers,
Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resource, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-16958 Filed 6-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F