[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 150 (Monday, August 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43626-43627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15232]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB72


Marine Mammals; File No. 10018

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 Dr. Rachel Cartwright, 5277 West 
Wooley Road, Oxnard, CA 93035, 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 
September 5, 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; and
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)973-2935; fax (808)973-2941.
    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

[[Page 43627]]

[email protected]. Include in the subject line of the e-mail 
comment the following document identifier: File No. 10018.

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 applicant seeks a five year permit to study the behavior and 
dynamics of humpback whale female and calf pairs in the waters off of 
Maui, Hawaii, including waters of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale 
National Marine Sanctuary. Up to 540 takes for close vessel approach, 
photo-identification, focal follows, underwater observations, 
collection of sloughed skin, and incidental harassment are requested 
annually to test the hypotheses that behavior, dynamics and 
distribution of female/calf pairs varies between different stocks and 
may be influenced by abiotic factors such as aspects of bathymetry, 
water quality, and levels of vessel traffic. Incidental harassment of 
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), spinner dolphins (Stenella 
longirostris), pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), false 
killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), and pilot whales (Globicephala 
sp.) is also requested. 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: August 1, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-15232 Filed 8-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S >