[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60645-60646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26800]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100703D]


Marine Mammals; Photography Permit Application No. 997-1704

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Bob McLaughlin, P.O. Box 496, 339 
Glenwood, Eastsound, Washington 98245, has been issued a permit to take 
several species of non-listed marine mammals for purposes of 
commercial/educational photography.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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,

[[Page 60646]]

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376;
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249; and,
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 26, 2003, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (68 FR 38011) that a request for a photography 
permit to take several species of non-listed marine mammals for 
purposes of commercial/educational photography had been submitted by 
the above-named individual. A correction to the first Notice was 
published on July 9, 2003 (68 FR 40911) in order to correct an 
erroneous statement as stated in the first Notice. The original Notice 
stated that NMFS was unable to issue photography permits for depleted 
marine mammal species but the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) does not prohibit these activities for 
depleted species. The requested permit has been issued 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 purpose of the proposed project is to film several species of 
non-listed marine mammals for an ongoing project that is tentatively 
titled ``Death of an Ecosystem?''. While this project has been ongoing 
for several years, Mr. McLaughlin desires to film from a closer vantage 
point, i.e. within 100 yards of an individual animal. The closeness of 
filming would be considered Level B harrassment and therefore would 
require a permit under the MMPA. The photographers intend to attempt to 
document marine mammal movement and aggregation under varying 
conditions including the presence of boat traffic. This will be done 
using a fusion of passive acoustic recording equipment with different 
filming equipment, including still and video, as well as different 
filming platforms, including elevated filming platforms. The action 
area will include waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, 
Washington and Alaska. The resulting film footage will be dispensed in 
part for print and broadcast media, to researchers as well as for 
educational purposes. The Permit will expire on October 31, 2005.

    Dated: October 17, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-26800 Filed 10-22-03; 8:45 am]
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