[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 152 (Monday, August 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 48221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19925]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072800B]


Marine Mammals; File No. P368D

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 Dr. James T. Harvey, Moss Landing 
Marine Laboratories, P.O. Box 450, Moss Landing, CA 95039-0450, has 
requested an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 938.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
September 6, 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); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802 (907/586-7221).
    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.
    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: Simona Roberts or Ruth Johnson, 301/
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 938, 
issued on February 2, 1995 (60 FR 7753) is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the Regulations Governing the Taking and 
Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 938 authorizes the permit holder to take various species 
of marine mammals of the suborders Mysticeti, Odontoceti, Pinnipedia, 
and southern sea otter annually during: aerial and vessel surveys, 
behavioral observations, photographic identification, and VHF and TDR 
tagging. On August 16, 1999 the permit was amended to include 
authorization to place implantable and surface VHF tags and TDRs on up 
to 20 killer whales (Orcinus orca) off the California coast. The permit 
holder now requests authorization to place implantable VHF and TDR tags 
on up to 8 killer whales in southeast Alaska.
    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: August 1, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Division Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service,
[FR Doc. 00-19925 Filed 8-4-00; 8:45 am]
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