[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38557-38558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19122]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 070798A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 481-1464 and 782-1355

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for permit and amendment

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. W. John Richardson, LGL Ltd. 
Environmental Research Associates, 22 Fisher St., P.O.B. 280, King 
City, Ontario L7B 1A6, Canada has applied in due form for a permit to 
take bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), ringed seals (Phoca hispida), 
bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) and beluga whales (Delphinapterus 
leucas) for purposes of scientific research; and Dr.

[[Page 38558]]

Douglas P. DeMaster, Director, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN 
C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, has requested an amendment to 
scientific research Permit No. 782-1355.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
August 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The application (File No. 481-1464), amendment request 
(Permit No. 782-1355), 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);
    Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 
Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted 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 amendment 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 e-mail or other electronic 
media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Shapiro or Ruth Johnson, 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit application and amendment 
to Permit No. 782-1355, issued on July 15, 1997 (62 FR 39826) 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 
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).
    Dr. Richardson (File No. 481-1464) requests authorization to study 
the feeding ecology of bowhead whales in the eastern Alaskan Beaufort 
Sea through aerial surveys and sampling of prey species.
    Permit No. 782-1355 authorizes the permit holder to take Pacific 
Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in the following manner: Harass during 
census flights; capture, restrain, measure (weight length, girth), 
sample (flipper punch, vibrissa, blood, blubber/muscle biopsy, ultra 
sound, enema), radio tag, flipper tag, and release 500 animals; and 
incidentally harass up to 2000 during the conduct of these activities, 
and during collection of scat samples from haulouts. The permit holder 
requests authorization to: increase the number of seals instrumented 
with time-depth recorders, biopsy sampled, and harassed.
    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 activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement 
to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact 
statement.
    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.

    Dated: July 7, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-19122 Filed 7-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F