[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 46484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23252]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]
[I.D. 082197A]


Marine Mammals; Photography Permit (File No. 860-1374)

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 Michael deGruy, The Film Crew, 
22838 Burbank Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91367, has applied in due form 
for a permit to take several species of non-threatened, non-endangered 
small cetaceans for purposes of commercial/educational photography.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 3, 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); and
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213
    (310/980-4001).
    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 Section 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 
gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) and Northern elephant seals 
(Mirounga angustirostris) in California waters.

    Dated: August 21, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-23252 Filed 9-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F