[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 67052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33437]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 120597A]


Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit No. 473-1433

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Ms. Janice M. Straley, P.O. Box 
273, Sitka, Alaska 99835 has been issued a permit to take humpback 
whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), killer whales (Orcinus orca), minke 
whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), gray whales (Eschrichtius 
robustus), 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, Alaska Regional Office, NMFS, NOAA, 709 
West 9th Street, Federal Building, Juneau, Alaska 99802 (907-586-7221).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 31, 1997, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (62 FR 58943) that the above-named applicant had 
submitted a request for a scientific research permit to inadvertently 
harass humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), during the course of 
photo-identification research from December 1, 1997, to November 30, 
2002 in Alaska waters, and to opportunistically photo-identify killer 
whales (Orcinus orca), minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), gray 
whales (Eschrichtius robustus), and fin whales (B. physalus) during the 
course of the humpback whale studies. 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.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and 
exporting of endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR part 222).
    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: December 12, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-33437 Filed 12-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F