[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 72 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19878-19879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9229]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 040300D]


Marine Mammals; File No. 522-1569

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 Randall S. Wells, Ph.D., Sarasota 
Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson 
Parkway, Sarasota, Florida 34236, has applied in due form for a permit 
to take bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for purposes of 
scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before May 
15, 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); and
    Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive 
Center Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (727/570-5312).
    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

[[Page 19879]]

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.), and the Regulations Governing the 
Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant seeks authorization to harass up to 120 bottlenose 
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) annually during the conduct of capture, 
examination, sampling, marking, and release activities. The research 
will take place over a five year period in the shallow coastal waters 
of central west Florida. Individual animals may be recaptured and 
released up to three times annually.
    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: April 5, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-9229 Filed 4-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F