[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 48611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24521]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 090997D]


Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Issuance of scientific research permit no. 875-1401.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Christopher W. Clark, 
Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, 
has been issued a permit to ``take'' blue whales (Balaenoptera 
musculus) and fin whales (B. physalus) 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); and
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4001).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 17, 1997, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (62 FR 10259) that the above-named applicant had 
submitted a request for a scientific research permit to ``take'' (i.e., 
harass) blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin whales (B. 
physalus) in order to study the effects on these species of low-
frequency sound produced by the Navy's Surface Towed Array Surveillance 
System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) system. The research will be 
conducted in the Southern California Bight during September/October of 
1997 and/or 1998. 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.), the Regulations 
Governing the Taking, Importing, and Exporting of Endangered Fish and 
Wildlife (50 CFR part 222); and the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 
1151-1175). 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: September 10, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-24521 Filed 9-15-97; 8:45 am]

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