[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 154 (Friday, August 10, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45013-45014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15685]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB64


Marine Mammals; File No. 10019

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 Jonathon Millman, 268 Mast Road, 
Durham, New Hampshire 03824, has applied in due form for a permit to 
conduct commercial/educational photography of harbor (Phoca vitulina) 
and gray (Halichoerus grypus) seals.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before September 10, 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
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394.
    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.

[[Page 45014]]

    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. 10019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jaclyn Daly or Tammy Adams, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of section 104(c)(6) 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). Section 
104(c)(6) provides for photography for educational or commercial 
purposes involving non-endangered and non-threatened marine mammals in 
the wild. NMFS is currently working on proposed regulations to 
implement this provision. However, in the meantime, NMFS has received 
and is processing this request as a ``pilot'' application for Level B 
Harassment of non-listed and non-depleted marine mammals for 
photographic purposes.
    Harbor and gray seals would be filmed on land, from vessel, and 
underwater within the Isles of Shoals and Casco Bay, Maine. The images 
collected would be used in a segment for the New Hampshire Public 
Television educational series ``Windows to the Wild.'' Up to 300 harbor 
and 50 gray seals may be harassed during filming. Harassment would not 
exceed Level B and filming would occur on no more than two occasions.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    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 6, 2007.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-15685 Filed 8-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S