[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63079-63080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25713]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100102C]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 782-1694 and 782-1438

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

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ACTION: Receipt of applications for permit and request to amend permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS, National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory (NMML), 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Seattle, WA 98102, has 
applied in due form for: (1) a permit to take an unspecified number of 
specimen materials from dead animals of the Orders Cetacea and 
Pinnipedia )(except walrus) for purposes of scientific research; and 
(2) an amendment to permit 782-1438.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
November 12, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment (See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION).

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

[[Page 63080]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit and amendment 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), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    782-1694 - The applicant proposes to take an unspecified number 
marine mammal specimen materials for scientific research. The objective 
of the research is to use the data and specimen materials collected 
from dead pinnipeds and cetaceans or receive samples from other 
permitted researchers to obtain information about the biology and life 
history of each of the species. Specimens from animals will be 
collected and curated, imported or exported only when the specimens are 
available from animals: 1) directly taken in countries and situations 
where such taking is legal [e.g. Alaska Native subsistence harvest]; 2) 
taken incidental to commercial fishing or other operations; 3) found 
dead at sea or stranded; 4) found dead of natural causes; and 5) taken 
legally under other research permits. Samples are requested to be taken 
anywhere in the United States and imported/exported worldwide.
    Permit 782-1438 authorizes the Holder to take beluga whales 
(Delphinapterus leucas) by capture to satellite tag, flipper tag, 
suction cup tag, biopsy sample and incidentally harass the animals. The 
research is conducted in Alaskan waters, specifically the Gulf of 
Alaska, Bristol Bay, Norton Sound, Kotzebue Sound and the Beaufort Sea. 
The maximum number of unintentional mortalities currently authorized is 
one animal annually. During capture operations in May 2002, a beluga 
whale became entangled in the net and drowned.
    The Holder now requests authority to increase the number of beluga 
whales that may be accidentally killed during capture operations to 
four (4) animals for the duration of the permit which expires September 
2003. A beluga tagged in Cook Inlet in August 2002 was found dead a 
week later. While the cause of death of the Cook Inlet animal is 
unknown because a necropsy was not feasible, mortality could have been 
related to capture or tagging. As a result, the Holder requests an 
amendment to Permit 782-1438 to allow for additional unintentional 
mortalities in 2003.
    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.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    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
    Protected Resources Division, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand 
Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 
526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
    Both Permit actions - Protected Resources Division, Alaska Region, 
NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907) 586-7235; fax 
(907) 586-7012;
    Protected Resources Division, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West 
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-
4020; fax (562) 980-4027;
    Protected Species Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, NMFS, 1601 
Kapiolani Blvd., Rm, 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 973-
2935; fax (808) 973-2941;
    Protected Resources Division, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone (978) 281-9346; fax (978) 281-
9371;
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (813) 570-5312; fax (813) 570-5517.

    Dated: October 3, 2002.
Trevor R. Spradlin,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-25713 Filed 10-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S