[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 39 (Wednesday, February 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 8972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3508]



[[Page 8972]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022207E]


Marine Mammals; File No. 1120-1898

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 Eye of the Whale (Olga von 
Ziegesar, Principal Investigator), P.O. Box 15191, Fitz Creek, AK 
99603, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on 
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before March 30, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The 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; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.
    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. 1120-1898.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Brandy Hutnak, 
(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 applicant requests a five-year scientific research permit to 
continue a long-term census of humpback whales in Prince William Sound 
and adjacent waters of Alaska. Up to 2,250 takes for the close vessel 
approach, photo-identification and behavioral observation of whales is 
requested annually to determine the population size, distribution, 
recurrence of individuals, feeding habits, vital rates, associations 
between animals, and sex of individuals.
    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: February 23, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3508 Filed 2-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S