[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 232 (Friday, December 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67882-67883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31384]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 112399B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 642-1536-00

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 Joseph R. Mobley, Jr., Ph.D., 
Professor Psychology, University of Hawaii-West Oahu, 96-129 Ala Ike, 
Pearl City, Hawaii 96782, has applied in due form for a permit to take 
several species of cetaceans for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
January 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The application 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);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4027); and
    Protected Species Program Manager, Pacific Islands Area Office, 
NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822-2941 (808/973-
2935).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application 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: Jeannie Drevenak, 301/713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the

[[Page 67883]]

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 222-226).
    The applicant is requesting authorization to harass the following 
species of cetaceans annually, over a five year period: humpback whales 
(Megaptera novaeangliae), during aerial and vessel studies, including 
in-water work; and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), fin whales 
(Balaenoptera physalus), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), 
spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), striped dolphins (Stenella 
coeruleoalba), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), 
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), melon-headed whales 
(Peponocephala electra), rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), 
Blainville's beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris), Cuvier's beaked 
whales (Ziphius cavirostris), false killer whales (Pseudorca 
crassidens), Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus), pygmy sperm whales 
(Kogia spp.), and dwarf sperm whales (Kogia spp.), during aerial 
surveys. The research will be carried out in waters surrounding all of 
the major Hawaiian Islands.
     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: November 26, 1999.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-31384 Filed 12-2-99; 8:45 am]
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