[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48614-48615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18860]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 071602D]


Marine Mammals; File No. 998-1678

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

[[Page 48615]]


ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Gregory D. Bossart, Harbor 
Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., 5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce, 
FL 34946, has applied in due form for a permit to take bottlenose 
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
August 26, 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; 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: Trevor Spradlin or Lynne Barre, (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 applicant proposes to conduct a health assessment of bottlenose 
dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, FL and the waters near Charleston, 
SC that would include the capture, examination, sampling, tagging and 
release of up to 400 animals (200 at each site) over a 5 year period. 
Dolphins of all age and sex classes would be captured except female-
calf pairs containing calves presumed to be less than one year of age. 
Some individual dolphins may be harassed more than once per day but not 
more than three times per day. In addition, some individual dolphins 
may be captured more than once during the 5-year period, but not more 
than three times in any given year. The applicant also proposes to 
incidentally harass a maximum of 1,500 additional dolphins per site (FL 
and SC) during the process of locating individuals for health 
assessment examinations.
    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 18, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-18860 Filed 7-24-02; 8:45 am]
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