[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 10744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3838]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF56


Marine Mammals; File No. 605-1904

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

ACTION:  Notice; issuance of permit.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that Whale Center of New England 
(Mason Weinrich, Principal Investigator), P.O. Box 159, Gloucester, MA 
01930 has been issued a permit to conduct research on humpback 
(Megaptera novaeangliae), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), and sei 
(Balaenoptera borealis) whales.

ADDRESSES:  The permit 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;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, 
Florida 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 7, 2007, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (72 FR 10170) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take humpback, fin, and sei whales had been 
submitted by the above-named organization. The requested permit has 
been issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (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 parts 222-226).
    Permit No. 605-1904, issued to The Whale Center of New England, 
allows for the harassment of humpback, fin, and sei whales along the 
U.S. Atlantic coast to: 1) continue population monitoring; 2) determine 
whether humpback whale life history parameters change with their 
population status; 3) determine the importance of Jeffrey's Ledge as an 
aggregation area; 4) determine how humpback and fin whales relate to 
their prey and use the environment; 5) develop an aging technique from 
biopsy samples; and 6) determine the effect that prey resources have on 
the distribution, behavior and social organization of whales. The 
permit authorizes the close approach of 400 humpback, 250 fin, and 100 
sei whales for vessel surveys, photo-identification, tracking, and 
incidental harassment annually. The permit also authorizes the biopsy 
sampling of 115 humpback, 95 fin, and 25 sei whales annually during 
such approaches. For humpback and fin whales, up to 20 samples for each 
species may be collected annually from young calves at least 3 months 
old. During approaches, researchers may suction-cup tag 40 humpback, 20 
fin, and 25 sei whales greater than six months of age annually. The 
permit is issued for five years.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an environmental assessment was prepared 
analyzing the effects of the permitted activities. After a Finding of 
No Significant Impact, the determination was made that it was not 
necessary to prepare an environmental impact statement.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: February 21, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-3838 Filed 2-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S