[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 7 (Monday, January 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1830-1831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-700]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 010598A]


Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit (PHF# 774-1439)

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 Dr. Robert L. Brownell, Jr., NMFS, 
Southwest Fisheries Science Center, P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, CA 92038, 
has applied in due form for a permit to take marine mammals of several 
species for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
February 11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The application 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 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289);
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS,501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4001); and
    Protected Species Program Manager, Pacific Area Office, 2570 Dole 
St., Rm. 106, Honolulu, HI 96822-2396 (808/973-2987).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 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 of 1973, as amended (ESA; 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).
    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.
    The purpose of the proposed research is to collect data to estimate 
abundance by species and to determine population structure for these 
species. Research surveys will be conducted in U.S. territorial and 
international waters over a five-year period and harassment of several 
marine mammal species may occur in the form of vessel approach, 
helicopter and small plane photogrammetry, biopsy sample collection, 
photography, and tagging and tracking of individual animals.
    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.


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    Dated: January 6, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-700 Filed 1-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F