[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24185-24186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10302]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041700A]


Marine Mammals; Photography Permit (File No. 980-1570)

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 Mr. Clive Lonsdale, Lonsdale 
Films, 113 Fakenham Road, Great Ryburg, Norfolk NR21 7AQ, United 
Kingdom, has applied in due form for a permit to take orcas (Orcinus 
orca) and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) for purposes of 
commercial photography.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 25, 2000.

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).

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-

[[Page 24186]]

depleted marine mammals for photographic purposes.
    The applicant seeks authorization to inadvertently harass up to 10 
orcas (Orcinus orca) and 2 gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) during 
the course of filming activities in the Alaskan waters of the Bering 
Strait over a one year period.
    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.
    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 18, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-10302 Filed 4-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F