[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 6326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3131]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 012999C]


Marine Mammals; File No. 77-4#2

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 the Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 166 Water Street, Woods 
Hole, MA 02543-1097, has requested an amendment to scientific research 
Permit No. 917.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
March 11, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request 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, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, (978/281-9250); and
    Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive 
Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813/570-5312).
    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. 917, 
issued on May 12, 1994 (59 FR 25872), as amended July 12, 1995 (60 FR 
37054) and November 24, 1997 (62 FR 48821) 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. 917 authorizes the permit holder to conduct a number of 
studies on several cetacean species as well as gray and harbor seals in 
the northeastern U.S. and Canadian waters. The research activities 
include: Vessel surveys, aerial surveys and photogrammetry, photo-
identification studies, and the collection of biopsies.
    The permit holder requests authorization to: (1) increase the 
number of biopsies for most species; (2) biopsy mother/calf pairs; (3) 
expand the study area to include all waters of the North Atlantic, from 
the equator to latitude 66.5 degrees North; (4) approach for non-
invasive ultra sound measurements; (5) take Bryde's whales, harp and 
hooded seals; (6) capture, tag and sample harbor seals; (7) up to 3 
accidental mortalities of harbor seals; (8) import/export samples for 
genetic studies; and (9) tag sperm whales.
    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: February 2, 1999.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources.
[FR Doc. 99-3131 Filed 2-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F