[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 13004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6377]



[[Page 13004]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 030199A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 930-1486, 732-1487, and 545-1488

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that: (1) U.S. Geological Survey 
(USGS), Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station 6924 
Tremont Road, Dixon, CA 95620; (2) Dr. Paul Ponganis, Associate 
Research Physiologist, University of California, San Diego, Center for 
Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of 
Oceanography, Scholander Hall, 0204, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 
92093-0204; and 3) The North Gulf Oceanic Society (NGOS), SPWS Bldg., 
3776 Lake Ave., Suite 204, P.O. Box 15244, Homer AK 9960; have applied 
in due form for permits to take various cetacean and pinniped species 
for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
April 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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); and
    (1) For File No. 930-1486 (USGS) and File No. 732-1487 (Dr. 
Ponganis): Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, NOAA, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, 
CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4001); and
    (2) For File No. 545-1488 (NGOS): Regional Administrator, Alaska 
Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these 
applications 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: Sara Shapiro or Ruth Johnson, 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are 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.).
    (1) USGS (File No. 930-1486) requests authorization to conduct low 
altitude aerial surveys of marine mammals in the Southern California 
Bight and adjacent waters; (2) Dr. Ponganis (File No. 732-1487) 
requests authorization to continue pinniped physiological studies on 
Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), Pacific harbor seals 
(Phoca vitulina), and California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) on 
animals that have been rescued from the wild and are undergoing captive 
rehabilitation; and (3) NGOS (File No. 545-1488) requests authorization 
to photo-identify, biopsy sample, and inadvertently harass killer 
whales (Orcinus orca), and inadvertently harass other marine mammal 
species on the South coast of Alaska.
    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 these applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: March 3, 1999.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-6377 Filed 3-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F