[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 36 (Thursday, February 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9049-9050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3584]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 021705B]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 594-1759 and 633-1763

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following institutions have 
applied in due form for permits to conduct scientific research on 
marine mammals: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife 
Resources Division, Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program, Coastal 
Office, Brunswick, GA (File No. 594-1759) and the Center for Coastal 
Studies, Provincetown, MA (File No. 633-1763).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before March 28, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review upon request or by appointment in the following office(s):
    All documents: 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;

[[Page 9050]]

    File No. 633-1763: Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371; and
    File Nos. 594-1759 and 633-1763: Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 
Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone 
(727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.
    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 the particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (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.
    Additionally, comments may be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox 
address for providing email comments is [email protected]. 
Please include the appropriate File No. (594-1759 or 633-1763) as a 
document identifier in the subject line of the e-mail comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Tammy Adams or Carrie Hubard at 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are 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 part 216), the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 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).
    File No. 594-1759: The applicant requests a 5-year permit for 
aerial surveys, including associated photo-identification, behavioral 
observation and incidental harassment of North Atlantic right whales 
(Eubalaena glacialis) in Atlantic waters off Virginia, North Carolina, 
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida and Gulf of Mexico waters off 
Florida and Alabama. Data will be used to (1) reduce potential for ship 
collisions via the Early Warning System, (2) improve knowledge of right 
whale habitat utilization, (3) maintain photo-id catalog, (4) monitor 
annual reproductive success, and (5) implement programs for population 
monitoring
    File No. 633-1763: The applicant requests a 5-year permit to 
conduct aerial and vessel surveys, photo-identification, behavioral 
observation, collection and export of sloughed skin, and incidental 
harassment of North Atlantic right whales in waters of the Gulf of 
Maine, Cape Cod Bay, Great South Channel, and Georgia Bight. Surveys 
will be conducted to investigate population parameters, habitat use and 
conflicts with human activities, and to develop a multi-dimensional 
foraging/ecosystem model. Data will also be provided to management 
agencies, including NMFS and the Massachusetts Division of Marine 
Fisheries. The CCS application also requests permission for biopsy 
sampling of right whales for genetic analyses. NMFS is deferring a 
decision on a permit for that biopsy sampling pending further 
environmental analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA).
    A draft EA has been prepared to examine whether significant 
environmental impacts could result from issuance of the proposed 
scientific research permit. The draft EA is available for review and 
comment simultaneous with the scientific research permit application.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of these applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: February 17, 2005.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-3584 Filed 2-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S