[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 106 (Monday, June 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30776-30777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10725]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA24


Marine Mammals; File No. 731-1774

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

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Robin Baird, Ph.D., Cascadia 
Research, 218 W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, has been issued an 
amendment to scientific research Permit No. 731-1774.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment (See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 12, 2007, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (72 FR 6533) that a request for a scientific 
research permit amendment to take cetacean species had been submitted 
by the above-named individual. The requested permit amendment has been 
issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 731-1774, issued to Robin Baird, Ph.D. (Cascadia 
Research) authorizes vessel approaches, aerial over-flights, photo-
identification, video and audio recording and suction cup tagging of 
cetacean species in all U.S. and international waters in the Pacific, 
including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, and other 
U.S. territories. The objectives of the research are to assess cetacean 
populations and to study diving and night-time behavior, social 
organization, and inter-specific interactions. The permit has been 
amended to authorize satellite tagging with dart tags of the following 
species of marine mammals: Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris), 
Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris), Longman's (Indopacetus pacificus), and 
Baird's (Berardius bairdii) beaked whales, short-finned pilot 
(Globicephala macrorhynchus), non-Southern Resident killer (Orcinus 
orca), pygmy killer (Feresa attenuata), melon-headed (Peponocephala 
electra), and false killer (Pseudorca crassidens) whales, bottlenose 
(Tursiops truncatus), rough-toothed (Steno bredanensis), and Risso's 
(Grampus griseus) dolphins, and dwarf (Kogia sima) and pygmy (Kogia 
breviceps) sperm whales. For each species, up to 20 individuals may be 
dart tagged per year for the duration of the permit. Incidental 
harassment of non-target animals is already authorized, therefore, no 
additional harassment takes were requested. Dart tagging would occur 
concurrently with already permitted activities, primarily in Hawaiian 
waters, though some species may be tagged opportunistically elsewhere 
where activities are authorized. No takes by dart tagging or additional 
incidental takes of ESA listed species were requested. The amended 
permit expires on August 31, 2010.
    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.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:

[[Page 30777]]

    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;
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018; and
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)973-2935; fax (808)973-2941.

    Dated: May 29, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-10725 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S