[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49785-49786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20683]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072700B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 731-1509-01

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment.

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[[Page 49786]]

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Robin Baird, Ph.D., 2 Supanee 
Court, French's Road, Cambridge CB4 3LB, UNITED KINGDOM, has requested 
an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 731-1509-01.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
September 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, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point 
Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (206/526-6426);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, 
Suite 4200, Long Beach, California 90802-4213, (562/980-4021); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, Federal Building, Room 461, 
709 West 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska 99802, (907/586-7235).
    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 Trevor Spradlin, 
(301) 713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 731-
1509-01, issued on November 24, 1999 (64 FR 67563-67564) 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.731-1509-01 authorizes the applicant to conduct radio 
tagging via suction-cup attachment, photo-identification, and 
behavioral observations of several species of cetaceans in the waters 
of Washington, Southeast Alaska, Oregon, California, Hawaii, and the 
Mediterranean and Ligurian Seas in order to study diving behavior of 
the subject cetacean species. The authority of this permit expires on 
July 31, 2004.
    The applicant is now requesting authorization to increase annual 
takes of killer whales (Orcinus orca) from 20 to 50 in Pacific coastal 
waters. The researcher proposes that the increase in takes will allow 
for a sufficient sample size to quantitatively examine reactions of 
tagged animals to vessel traffic, particularly for the ``southern'' 
resident population.
    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 9, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-20683 Filed 8-14-00; 8:45 am]
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