[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 10, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 57523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19925]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD09


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 10045, 532-1822

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application and amendment request.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Samuel Wasser, University of 
Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195, has applied for a scientific 
research permit (File No. 10045) and Kenneth Balcomb, Center for Whale 
Studies, P.O. Box 1577, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, has requested an 
amendment to scientific research Permit No. 532-1822-02.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before November 9, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request 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
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted 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 amendment 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 file number of the application 
you are commenting on: File No. 10045 or 532-1822.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit and amendment requests 
are 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).
    Permit No. 10045 would authorize fecal collections from killer 
whales year round in Puget Sound and the Georgia Basin, WA. The purpose 
of the research is to investigate the impacts of prey availability, 
toxins, and vessel traffic on killer whales using hormone fecal 
analysis. The applicant is requesting to harass 30 southern resident 
killer whales and a total of 10 transient, offshore, and northern 
resident killer whales annually. The permit would expire 5 years from 
date of issuance and would require annual re-authorization.
    An amendment to Permit No. 532-1822-02, issued on July 17, 2006, is 
requested by Mr. Balcomb. The permit currently authorizes the permit 
holder to conduct aerial and vessel surveys, behavioral observations, 
photo-ID, and fecal and prey collection on southern resident killer 
whales (Orcinus orcas). The permit holder is requesting an additional 
12 takes, annually, for satellite dart tagging of southern residents in 
California, Oregon, and Washington. The permit would expire April 14, 
2011 and requires annual re-authorization.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of these applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: October 3, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-19925 Filed 10-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S