[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 48615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18863]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 071202C]


Marine Mammals; File No. 782-1438

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory, NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, 
Seattle, WA 98115-0070, (Dr. Sue Moore, Principal Investigator (PI)) 
has been issued a minor amendment to scientific research Permit No. 
782-1438.

ADDRESSES: The amendment 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;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018;
    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
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams or Ruth Johnson, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested amendment has been granted 
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 (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), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 782-1438, issued on issued on May 8, 1998 (63 FR 27265) 
authorizes the National Marine Mammal Laboratory to take various large 
and small cetacean species through photographic aerial surveys (Project 
I); biopsy sampling, tagging and photo-identification (Project II); 
small cetacean species and pinnipeds through vessel surveys (Project 
III); gray whales through biopsy sampling, tagging, photo-id and 
harassment (Project IV); and beluga whales by satellite-tagging, 
flipper tagging, VHF radio/time depth recorder(TDR) suction cup-tagging 
and biopsy sampling (Project V). The amendment extends the expiration 
date of the permit. For Projects I, II, and III, the expiration date 
has been extended to September 30, 2003. For Project IV, the expiration 
date has been extended to June 30, 2003.
    Issuance of this amendment, as required by the ESA was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the 
subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: July 19, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-18863 Filed 7-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S