[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 246 (Thursday, December 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 80420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32473]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121100C]


Marine Mammals; File No. 995-1608

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Thomas Norris, SAIC, 3990 Old Town 
Avenue Suite 105A, San Diego, California 92110, has applied in due form 
for a permit to take mysticete whales (blue whale, Balaenoptera 
musculus; fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus; Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera 
edeni; minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata; humpback whale, 
Megaptera novaeangliae; gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus) for purposes 
of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
January 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The application 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 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289);
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426; and
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Lewandowski or Simona Roberts, 
301/713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 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 (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).
    The applicant proposes to tag and photograph for identification 
purposes mysticete whales (blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus; fin 
whale, Balaenoptera physalus; Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni; minke 
whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata; humpback whale, Megaptera 
novaeangliae; gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus) using Satellite-Linked 
ARGOS Transmitters (Sat-LAT) and a new Acoustic/Radio Tracking and 
data-Telemetry (ARTT) system. The ARTT system logs and acoustically 
telemeters underwater positions and environmental data to a tracking 
vessel where GPS integrated updates of animal positions and track 
histories are displayed with a PC. The Sat-LAT system will provide 
large scale, long-term information on the movement patterns of tagged 
whales, whereas the ARTT system will provide fine scale, short-term 
information for examining behavioral responses of mysticete whales to 
natural and anthropogenic environmental stimuli. Both methods will 
provide data necessary to identify critical whale habitat, its 
variability in space and time, and the effects of anthropogenic 
activities (e.g. noise) relative to these habitat requirements.
    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.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed 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 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 by other 
electronic media.
    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: December 15, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-32473 Filed 12-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22-S