[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71618-71619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34449]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 121698C]


Marine Mammals; File No. 369-1440

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Bruce R. Mate, Oregon State 
University, has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit 
No. 369-1440.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
January 28, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request and related documents are available 
for review upon written request or by appointment (See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION).
    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: Ruth Johnson or Sara Shapiro 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 369-1440 
issued on September 18, 1998 (63 FR 52686) is 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 (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).
    Permit No. 369-1440 authorizes the permit holder to: (1) approach 
to tag/biopsy sample, photograph and evaluate tag attachment on seven 
species of large whales; and (2) to opportunistically photograph an 
unlimited number of cetaceans and pinnipeds. In the original 
application, the permit holder inadvertently omitted requesting 
authorization to: conduct tagging/biopsy sampling in international 
waters and to import/export samples for genetic analysis.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42

[[Page 71619]]

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an environmental assessment was prepared on the 
original application. The environmental assessment is available upon 
request.
    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.
    Documents may be reviewed 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 99802-1668 (907/586-7221);
    Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, (978/281-9250);
    Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point 
Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA, 98115-0070 (206/526-6150);
    Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive 
Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813/570-5312); and
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4001).

    Dated: December 21, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34449 Filed 12-28-98; 8:45 am]
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