[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 140 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47775-47776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18442]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 071202B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 779-1681

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 NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center (SEFSC), (Dr. Aleta Hohn, Principal Investigator), 75 Virginia 
Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149, has applied in due form for a permit to 
take bottlenose dolphins for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
August 21, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Hubard or Ruth Johnson, 
(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.)and the Regulations Governing the Taking 
and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The SEFSC requests a Permit to take bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops 
truncatus) for scientific research. The impetus for the research is the 
need to define the stock structure of western North Atlantic bottlenose 
dolphins. The project is a continuation of research begun in 1997 to 
elucidate stock structure using multiple methods and to test the 
hypothesis of one coastal migratory stock of bottlenose dolphins along 
the Atlantic coast of the U.S. A maximum of 500 individual dolphins 
will be captured, examined, sampled, marked, and released during the 5 
year

[[Page 47776]]

period of the permit. Captures will take place in inshore and nearshore 
waters from New York to the Texas/Mexico border. As part of the 
research, the captured bottlenose dolphins will be sampled for genetic 
and isotope analyses, photographed for photo-id and will have 
transmitters attached.
    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, Conservation and 
Education 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: July 16, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-18442 Filed 7-19-02; 8:45 am]
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