[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 158 (Monday, August 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 43915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22027]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 080798B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 519-1469

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. Jeffrey D. Goodyear, 
Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University 
Blvd., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4, has applied in due form for a 
permit to take gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) for purposes of 
scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
September 16, 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, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221);
    Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 
98115-0070 (206/526-6150); and
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-
4213 (562/980-4001).
    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 13705, 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 e-mail or by other 
electronic media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannie Drevenak, 301/713-2289.

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.), the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR 222.23), and the Fur Seal Act of 
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The applicant seeks authorization to place telemetry tags on gray 
whales (Eschrichtius robustus) at various locations along their 
migratory route. These tags will record parameters including depth, 
speed, body orientation, temperature, salinity, light level, and heart 
rate. In the process of conducting the above activities, the applicant 
may incidentally harass and collect opportunistic data on various 
cetacean and pinniped species.
    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.
    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: August 10, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-22027 Filed 8-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F