[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 60085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26548]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 090903C]


Small Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Oceanographic Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Near Bermuda

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

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment deadline.

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SUMMARY: Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), on October 9, 
2003, NMFS published a notice of receipt of an application for the 
harassment of marine mammals incidental to conducting an oceanographic 
survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda. By this document, 
NMFS announces an extension of the comment deadline.

DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than November 
10, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Chief, Marine Mammal 
Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
3226. A copy of the application may be obtained by writing to this 
address or by telephoning the contact listed here. Comments cannot be 
accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah C. Hagedorn, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 713-2322, ext 117.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs 
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to allow, upon request, the 
incidental, but not intentional taking of marine mammals by U.S. 
citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial 
fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are 
made and regulations are issued.
    On October 9, 2003 (68 FR 58308), NMFS announced that it had 
received an application from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 
(LDEO) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization to take small numbers 
of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting an 
oceanographic survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda. 
Under the MMPA, NMFS requested comments on its proposal to issue an 
authorization to LDEO to incidentally take, by harassment, small 
numbers of several species of marine mammals for a limited period of 
time within the next year. By this document, NMFS extends the comment 
period on the application and its preliminary determination until 
November 10, 2003.

    Dated: October 14, 2003.
Donna Wieting,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-26548 Filed 10-20-03; 8:45 am]
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