[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52686-52687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26305]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 071798B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 369-1440

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Bruce R. Mate, Oregon State 
University, Newport, Oregon 97365-5296, has been issued a permit to 
take various species of large whales and opportunistically take by 
Level B harassment other species of marine mammals, for purposes of 
scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment (See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 21, 1998, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (63 FR 3093) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take various species of large whales by tag and 
biopsy sample, and to opportunistically conduct level B harassment on 
other marine mammal species encountered during tagging activities, had 
been submitted by the above-named individual. 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 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 parts 217-227), and the Fur 
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 369-1440 was issued to the above named individual to 
satellite tag and biopsy sample seven species of large whales 
throughout the United States. No more than 24 of each species will be 
tagged/sampled in a year. NMFS prepared an Environmental Assessment of 
the authorized activities. The EA is available upon request.
    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.
    Documents are available for review in the following locations:
    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 (907/586-7221);
    Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point 
Way, NE, BIN C15700, Seattle, WA 98115 (206/526-6150);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4015);
    Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, 
Honolulu, HI 96822-2396 (808/955-8831);

[[Page 52687]]

    Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive 
Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813/570-5312); and
    Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, (978/281-9250).

    Dated: September 18, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-26305 Filed 9-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F