[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10991-10992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5292]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 021704A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 1049-1718

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

ACTION: Receipt of amendment to application for a new permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Kate M. Wynne, University of 
Alaska Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, 118 Trident 
Way, Kodiak, Alaska 99615 has submitted an amendment to a permit 
application to add a request for takes of humpback whales (Megaptera 
novaeangliae) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalis) by attachment of 
scientific instruments for the purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing must be received at 
the appropriate address or facsimilie (fax) number (see ADDRESSES) on 
or before April 8, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these 
applications 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 e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 1049-1718.
    Comments may 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.
    The permit application 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, (301) 713-2289; and Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802-1668, (907) 586-7221.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Lewandowski or Jennifer Jefferies 
at (301) 713-2289.

[[Page 10992]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit 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 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.).
    The original permit application (file no. 1049-1718) was published 
in the Federal Register on July 18, 2003 (68 FR 42689) and requested a 
five-year scientific research permit to assess life history parameters 
of humpback whales, killer whales (Orcinus orca), sperm whales 
(Physeter macrocephalus), fin whales, sei whales (Balaenoptera 
borealis), minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and gray whales 
(Eschrichtius robustus). Requested takes included photo-identification, 
behavioral observation, passive acoustic recording, biopsy sampling, 
incidental harassment, and collection and/or export of dead parts from 
the following prey species during killer whale predation studies: 
humpback, gray, minke, sei, fin and sperm whales, harbor porpoise 
(Phocoena phocoena), Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), harbor seals 
(Phoca vitulina), Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus 
obliquidens), Northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), and Steller sea 
lions (Eumetopias jubatus). All research will take place in Alaskan 
waters.
    The applicant has now amended the application to add a request for 
60 annual takes of humpback whales and 60 annual takes of fin whales 
through the attachment of VHF and TDR tags by suction cup. The 
applicant has also requested an increase of 270 annual takes by 
incidental harassment of these two species during tagging activities. 
In addition, skin cells retained by the suction cup after its release 
from the whale will be collected for genetic analyses. The newly 
requested takes are in addition to the takes already requested in the 
original application and outlined in the paragraph above.
    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: March 3, 2004.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-5292 Filed 3-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S