[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59782-59783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26296]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100603D]


Marine Mammals; File No.753-1599

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Jim Darling, Ph.D., 2155 West 13th 
Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. VOR 2ZO, Canada, has requested an amendment to 
scientific research Permit No. 753-1599-00.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
November 17, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request 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;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249; and
    Protected Species Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, NMFS, 1601 
Kapiolani Blvd., Rm, 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)973-
2935; fax (808)973-2941. Written comments or requests for a public 
hearing on this request should be submitted 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 amendment 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 other electronic 
media.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 753-
1599-00, issued on January 10, 2001 (66 FR 1957-1958), is requested 
under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (16

[[Page 59783]]

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 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and 
threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    Permit No. 753-1599-00 authorizes the permit holder to conduct 
studies on the mating behavior, social organization and behavioral 
ecology of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and gray whales 
(Eschrichtius robustus) in the state waters of Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, 
Washington and California. The current permit expires on January 1, 
2006.
    The permit holder is now requesting additional takes for humpback 
whales only to further study the whales' songs in Hawaiian and Alaskan 
waters. Specifically, the permit holder is requesting the following 
additional annual takes: 100 humpback whales through the playback of 
recorded humpback whale songs, 50 humpback whales through suction cup 
and implantable tags designed to study the short-term movement patterns 
of the animals, and 300 humpback whales through harassment incidental 
to these research activities.
    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: October 8, 2003.
Jill K. Lewandowski,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-26296 Filed 10-16-03; 8:45 am]
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