[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 8279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2195]



[[Page 8279]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 012506F]


Marine Mammals; File No. 978-1791

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Paul E. Nachtigall, Ph.D., Marine 
Mammal Research Program, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, P.O. Box 
1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734, has been issued a permit to conduct 
research on certain cetacean species.

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, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; and
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)973-2935; fax (808)973-2941.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Wright or Amy Sloan, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 19, 2005, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (70 FR 28909) that a request for a scientific research 
permit to take certain cetacean species had been submitted by the 
above-named individual. 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.), 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 parts 222-226).
    This permit authorizes the permit holder to conduct hearing 
measurements on stranded cetaceans on beaches, in near-shore waters, 
and in rehabilitation facilities in the U.S.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: February 9, 2006.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-2195 Filed 2-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S