[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 179 (Monday, September 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52862-52863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18295]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC58


Marine Mammals; File No. 1039-1916

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 Ann Zoidis, Cetos Research 
Organization, 11 Des Isle Avenue, Bar Harbor, Maine, has applied in due 
form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals in Hawaii and 
the Gulf of Maine.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before October 17, 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;
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)973-2935; fax (808)973-2941; 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.
    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. 1039-1916.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jaclyn Daly 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 is requesting to study 17 species of cetaceans in 
Hawaii and 10 species in the Gulf of Maine. The purpose of the research 
is to expand ESA and non-ESA listed species abundance, distribution, 
and acoustic data. More specifically, this research would provide 
information on diving and foraging behavior of cetaceans while acoustic 
studies would contribute to data investigating the relationship between 
repertoire, pod composition, and behavior. Research activities would 
include vessel surveys, photo-ID, passive acoustic recording, and

[[Page 52863]]

behavioral observations for all species. Furthermore, suction-cup 
tagging of humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), fin (Balaenoptera 
physalus), minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), sei (Balaenoptera 
borealis), and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) whales would also occur. 
Tagging of sei, minke, and sperm whales would be limited to adults and 
subadults while all age classes, except neonates, of humpback and fin 
whales would be tagged. Underwater videography of humpback whales in 
Hawaii is also requested. No mortality is anticipated. The permit would 
be valid for 5 years from date of issuance.
    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: September 11, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-18295 Filed 9-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S