[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42676-42677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17511]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D.062900D]


Marine Mammals; Permit Nos. 914-1470-01 and 779-1339-02

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that University of Southern 
Mississippi, Box 5018, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, and National Marine 
Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach 
Drive, Miami, FL 33149, have requested an amendment to scientific 
research Permit No. 914-1470 and 779-1339, respectively.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
August 10, 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);
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813/570-5312); and
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, 
(978/281-9250).
    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 13130, 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.

[[Page 42677]]

    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: Ruth Johnson or Simona Roberts, 301/
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The amendment request to Permit No. 914-
1470, issued on November 12, 1998 (63 FR 64066), and Permit No. 779-
1339, issued on July 8, 1997 (62 FR 38069) are 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), and 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 and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    Permit No. 914-1470 authorizes the permit holder to: import fluid 
and tissue samples of bottlenose dolphin, beluga whale and Pacific 
white-sided dolphin from the Bahamas, Honduras and Finland. The permit 
holder requests authorization to: import blood samples of Southern 
elephant seals from Argentina.
    Permit No. 779-1339 authorizes the permit holder to: conduct 
research that involves biopsy sampling, photo-identification and photo-
grammetry on a variety of marine mammal species in the North Atlantic 
ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, U.S. territorial 
seas and international waters. The Holder wants to increase the number 
of animals authorized to be biopsied sampled.
    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: July 3, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-17511 Filed 7-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F