[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37361-37362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15020]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 050500E]


Marine Mammals; File No. 909-1465-00

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Daniel Engelhaupt, Biological 
Sciences Department, University of Durham, Science Laboratories, South 
Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, England, has requested an amendment to 
Scientific Research Permit No. 909-1465-00.

[[Page 37362]]


DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before July 
14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request 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 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 
713-2289);
    Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive 
Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33702-2432, (727) 570-5301.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted 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 amendment 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 other electronic 
media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Lewandowski or Jeannie Drevenak, 
(301) 713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 909-
1465-00, issued on June 14, 1999 (63 FR 39272) is requested under the 
authority 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), the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and 
threatened species (50 CFR 222-226). Permit No. 909-1465-00 authorizes 
the applicant to conduct photo-identification and skin biopsy sampling 
activities on several species of cetaceans, including the sperm whale 
(Physeter catodon), in the Gulf of Mexico over a five year period. 
Samples collected via biopsy sampling, as well as extant samples of 
stored material obtained from National Marine Fisheries Services' 
Southeast Regions, may be exported to England for genetic analyses. The 
authority of this permit expires on April 30, 2004.
    The applicant is now requesting authorization for the following: 
(1) Extend the study for sperm whales only to waters of the southern 
Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and mid-western Atlantic, allowing for 
documentation of genetic variability of additional sperm whale 
populations thought to be residents in the northern Gulf of Mexico; (2) 
biopsy females with calves present as long as the calves are at least 
4.5 meters in length; (3) expand the draw weight of the crossbow used 
for biopsy from 35-45 kg to a maximum of 150 kg; (4) increase sperm 
whale takes by an additional 250 individuals by biopsy and 750 
individuals by incidental harassment; and (5) export all collected 
samples, including those from the increased geographic area, to England 
for genetic analysis.
    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: June 8, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-15020 Filed 6-13-00; 8:45 am]
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