[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