[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29626-29627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13959]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 052199C]


Marine Mammals; Photography Permit (File No. 955-1518-00)

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Julian Hector, The Natural 
History Unit, BBC, Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2LU UK, has applied 
in due form for a permit to take northern fur seals (Callorhinus 
ursinus) for purposes of commercial photography.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 2, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 W 9th 
Street, Federal Building, Room 461, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 
(907-586-7235).
    Written data or views, or requests for a public hearing on this 
request, should be submitted to the Director, 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 request would be 
appropriate.

[[Page 29627]]

    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of Sec. 104(c)(6) 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). Section 
104(c)(6) provides for photography for educational or commercial 
purposes involving non-endangered and non-threatened marine mammals in 
the wild. NMFS is currently working on proposed regulations to 
implement this provision. However, in the meantime, NMFS has received 
and is processing this request as a ``pilot'' application for Level B 
Harassment of non-listed and non-depleted marine mammals for 
photographic purposes. The applicant seeks authorization to harass up 
to 35,500 northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) during the course of 
filming activities on St. Paul Island, Alaska, from July 7, 
1999 through August 7, 1999. Filming will take place under the direct 
supervision of National Marine Fisheries Service biologists.

    Dated: May 25, 1999.
Jeannie K. Drevenak,
Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-13959 Filed 6-1-99; 8:45 am]

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