[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 198 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58288-58289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20231]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

0648-XD23


Marine Mammals; Issuance of Permits

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

ACTION:  Notice; issuance of permits.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that individuals and institutions have 
been issued Letters of Confirmation for activities conducted under the 
General Authorization for Scientific Research on marine mammals. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for a list of names and address of 
recipients.

ADDRESSES:  The Letters of Confirmation and related documents are 
available for review upon written request or by appointment in the 
following office:
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Office of Protected Resources, 
Permits Division, (301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested Letters of Confirmation have 
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). 
The General Authorization allows for bona fide scientific research that 
may result only in taking by level B harassment of marine mammals. The 
following Letters of Confirmation were issued in Fiscal Year 2007.
    File No. 572-1869: Issued to Daniel K. Odell, Ph.D., Hubbs-SeaWorld 
Research Institute, 6295 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32821 on 
November 14, 2006, for vessel surveys to conduct photo-identification, 
behavioral observations, passive acoustic recordings, and videography 
of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon 
on the east-central coast of Florida; in the Key West (Monroe County, 
FL) area; and in the coastal waters of Georgia, primarily in the 
vicinity of Sapelo Sound and St. Catherine's Island. In addition, 
aerial surveys of bottlenose dolphins will be conducted over the Indian 
River Lagoon. These activities may be conducted through November 14, 
2011.
    File No. 699-1891: Issued to Kathryn A. Ono, Ph.D., University of 
New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005 on January 11, 
2007, for a study to determine the diet of seals off the coast of Maine 
and to use fecal DNA to determine if hard part analysis is an accurate 
representation of the occurrence of certain prey species in pinniped 
diets. This study will result in harassment of gray seals (Halichoerus 
grypus), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), hooded seals (Cystophora 
cristata), and harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) in coastal Maine 
through December 1, 2011.
    File No. 809-1902: Issued to Susan G. Barco, Virginia Aquarium & 
Marine Science Center Foundation, 717 General Booth Boulevard, Virginia 
Beach, VA 23451 on February 21, 2007, for vessel surveys for photo-
identification of bottlenose dolphins throughout the coastal and 
offshore waters geographically contiguous with the Commonwealth of 
Virginia (including Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay, Assateague 
Island to Ocean City, and waters off northeastern North Carolina) 
through February 28, 2012.
    File No. 1094-1836-02: Issued to Peggy Stap, 1479 W. Dowling Rd., 
Dowling, MI 49050-9718, on March 7, 2007, for conducting small vessel 
surveys to collect photo-identification and behavioral data using 
photography, video, and hydrophone recordings to study the foraging 
strategies of transient and offshore killer whales (Orcinus orca) as 
well as investigate the abundance, distribution, movement, and 
frequency of occurrence of other cetacean species in the Monterey Bay 
National Marine Sanctuary. This study will result in takes of 17 
species of cetaceans through April 30, 2011. This study was modified to 
add harassment of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), 
northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), northern fur seals 
(Callorhinus ursinus), and harbor seals. This amended GA LOC supercedes 
version 1094-1836-01, issued on June 30, 2006.
    File No. 717-1909: Issued to Jan Ostman-Lind, Ph.D., Kula Nai'a 
Wild Dolphin Research Foundation, P.O. Box 6870, Kamuela, HI 96743 on 
March 29, 2007, for vessel surveys to conduct photo-identification, 
focal follows, and passive acoustic recordings of spinner dolphins 
(Stenella longirostris) in coastal waters off the Island of Hawai'i and 
in waters up to 25 nautical miles offshore through March 31, 2012.
    File No. 819-1800-01: Issued to John G. Morris, Ph.D., Florida 
Institute of Technology, Biology Department, 150 West University 
Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901 on April 9, 2007, for photo-
identification, behavioral observations, and passive acoustic 
recordings of bottlenose dolphins, via vessel surveys in the Indian 
River Lagoon, Florida between Eau Gallie and Sebastian Inlet through 
August 31, 2008. This study was modified to extend the duration from 
August 31, 2007 to August 31, 2008. This amended GA LOC supercedes 
version 819-1800, issued on July 27, 2005.
    File No. 881-1918: Issued to Anne Hoover-Miller, Alaska SeaLife 
Center, 301 Railway Avenue, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664 on May 9, 
2007, for aerial and vessel surveys and remote video monitoring of 
harbor seals in Alaska through May 15, 2012.
    File No. 699-1891-01: Issued to Kathryn A. Ono, Ph.D., University 
of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005 on June 8, 
2007, for a study to determine the diet of seals off the coast of Maine 
and to use fecal DNA to determine if hard part analysis is an accurate 
representation of the occurrence of certain prey species in pinniped 
diets. This study, which will result in harassment of gray, harbor, 
harp, and hooded seals in coastal Maine through December 1, 2011, was 
modified to include collection of harbor seal scat and additional 
harassment of harbor seals. This amended GA LOC supercedes version 699-
1891, issued on January 11, 2007.
    File No. 481-1795-01: Issued to Tamara McGuire, Ph.D., LGL Alaska 
Research Associates, Inc., 1101 East 76th Avenue, Suite B, Anchorage, 
AK 99516 on August 21, 2007, for aerial, vessel, and land-based surveys 
of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. The 
study, which includes acoustic monitoring and incidental harassment 
during prey studies of belugas, is authorized until May 30, 2010. This 
study was modified to change the Principal Investigator from Dr. Tim 
Markowitz to Dr. McGuire. This amended GA LOC supercedes version 481-
1795, issued on May 20, 2005.
    File No. 10036: Issued to Brent S. Stewart, Ph.D., J.D., Hubbs-
SeaWorld Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109, 
on August 21, 2007, for studies of the breeding and

[[Page 58289]]

vocal behavior of four species of seals in the Antarctic pack ice and 
fast ice of western Amundsen, Bellingshausen, and eastern Ross seas 
between September 1, and November 2, 2007. This study will result in 
takes of Ross seals (Ommatophoca rossii), crabeater seals (Lobodon 
carcinophaga), Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii), and leopard 
seals (Hydrurga leptonyx).
    File No. 699-1891-02: Issued to Kathryn A. Ono, Ph.D., University 
of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005 on August 24, 
2007, for a study to determine the diet of seals off the coast of Maine 
and to use fecal DNA to determine if hard part analysis is an accurate 
representation of the occurrence of certain prey species in pinniped 
diets. This study, which will result in harassment of gray seals, 
harbor, harp, and hooded seals in coastal Maine through December 1, 
2011, was modified to allow harassment of additional harbor and gray 
seals during scat collections. This amended GA LOC supercedes version 
699-1891-01, issued on June 8, 2007.
    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 
activities are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare 
an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: October 9, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-20231 Filed 10-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S