[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 40911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17241]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 060303E]


Marine Mammals; File No. 545-1488

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Craig Matkin, North Gulf Oceanic 
Society, 60920 Mary Allen Avenue, Homer, AK 99603, has been issued an 
amendment to scientific research Permit No. 545-1488-01.

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; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Lewandowski or Carrie Hubard, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 21, 2003, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (68 FR 2751) that an amendment of Permit No. 545-
1488, issued May 7, 1999 (64 FR 24592), had been requested by the 
above-named organization. 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.) and the Regulations Governing the 
Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The permit amendment adds the deployment of tags (short-term radio, 
satellite, acoustic recording, and underwater video tags) by close 
approach and biopsy sampling on the following species (except where 
noted in parantheses, additional annual takes beyond those already 
authorized under Permit No. 545-1488 include 150 photo-identification, 
25 tagging and 30 biopsy sampling per species per year): killer whale 
(60 tagged and 64 biopsy sampled individuals per year), gray whale, 
harbor porpoise, Dall's porpoise, Pacific white-sided dolphin, Baird's 
beaked whale, Cuvier's beaked whale and Stejneger's beaked whales. The 
purpose of the amendment, as noted in the application, is to examine 
diving behavior, feeding, and movements of whales and to obtain 
information on elusive and rarely studied species.

    Dated: July 2, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-17241 Filed 7-8-03; 8:45 am]
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