[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 224 (Monday, November 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69738-69739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29639]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110300C]


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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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 
December 20, 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).
    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, (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.), 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.), the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No.731-1509-01 authorizes the applicant to conduct radio 
tagging via suction-cup attachment, photo-identification, and 
behavioral observations of 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 forwarding three requests. (1) Increase 
suction cup tagging takes of Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) 
in Hawaii from 15 to 35 annually. (2) Increase harassment takes 
incidental to suction cup tagging of Humpback whales (Megaptera 
novaeangliae) in Hawaii from 25 to 50 annu Globicephala macrorhynchus 
ally. (3) Allow for biopsy sampling of cetacean species in the 
following waters:
     (a) Mediterranean and Ligurian Seas- 30 takes for each species of 
Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Risso's dolphin (Grampus 
griseus), Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus 
),Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba); 15 takes for Fin whales 
(Balaenoptera physalus); and 45 takes for Sperm whales (Physeter 
macrocephalus).
     (b) Hawaii- 60 takes for each species of Killer whale (Orcinus 
orca), Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), Melon-
headed whale (Peponocephala electra), False killer whale (Pseudorca 
crassidens), Pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), Spinner dolphin 
(Stenella longirostris), Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella 
attenuata), Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), Risso's dolphin 
(Grampus griseus), Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), 
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia 
simus), Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), Bottlenose whale 
(Hyperoodon sp.), Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), Cuvier's 
beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Blainville's beaked whale 
(Mesoplodon densirostris), Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni); and 45 
takes for each species of Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), Sei 
whale (Balaenoptera borealis), Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), 
Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), 
and Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis).
    (c) California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska- 60 takes for each 
species of Killer whale (Orcinus orca), Short-

[[Page 69739]]

finned pilot whale (Globcephala macrorhynchus), Melon-headed whale 
(Peponocephala electra), False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), 
Pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), Spinner dolphin (Stenella 
longirostris), Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata), 
Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), Long-beaked common dolphin 
(Delphinus capensis), Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), 
Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), Northern right whale dolphin 
(Lissodelphis borealis), Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus 
obliquidens), Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), Bottlenose 
dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), 
Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus), 
Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), Bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon sp.), 
Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), Cuvier's beaked whale 
(Ziphius cavirostris), Hubbs' beaked whale (Mesoplodon carlhubbsi), 
Stejneger's beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri), Ginkgo-toothed whale 
(Mesoplodon ginkgodens), Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon 
densirostris), Hector's beaked whale (Mesoplodon hectori), Gray whale 
(Eschrichtius robustus); and 45 takes for each species of Sei whale 
(Balaenoptera borealis), Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Fin 
whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), and 
Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis).
    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.
    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.

    Dated: November 15, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-29639 Filed 11-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S