[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 1218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-203]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 010407D]


Marine Mammals; File No. 775-1875

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center (NEFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (Dr. Richard Merrick, 
Principal Investigator), 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, has 
applied in due form for a permit to conduct scientific research on and 
import/export specimens collected from marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before February 9, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application 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 facsimile at (301)427-2521, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
    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. 775-1875.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandy Hutnak or Carrie Hubard, 
(301)713-2289.

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 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).
    The NEFSC seeks permission to conduct research on seven species of 
baleen whales, twenty-five species/stocks of odontocetes, and four 
species of pinnipeds over a period of five years. This application 
includes the following endangered species: sperm whale (Physeter 
macrocephalus), sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), blue whale (B. 
musculus), fin whale (B. physalus), humpback whale (Megaptera 
novaeangliae), and right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). The principal 
purpose of the research is estimation of distribution, abundance, and 
determination of stock structure in supporting NOAA's mandates under 
both the MMPA and ESA. Types of take include Level B harassment during 
vessel and aircraft line transect and photo-identification surveys, 
biopsy sampling, instrument attachment (suction-cup tags on cetaceans), 
and pinniped capture/tag/release. For cetaceans, the proposed research 
would be conducted on all age classes, except neonates. The pinniped 
research would be conducted on all ages, including pups. The proposed 
study area for the permit includes waters within or proximal to the US 
Exclusive Economic Zone from Florida to Maine. Permission is also 
sought to import and export specimens (including soft and hard tissue, 
blood, extracted DNA, and whole dead animals or parts thereof) to/from 
any country.
    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: January 5, 2007.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-203 Filed 1-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S