[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 52 (Monday, March 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14228-14229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5307]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

RIN 0648-XF79


Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; National Marine Fisheries 
Service File No. 932-1905; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service File No. PRT-
009526

AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce; U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Marine Mammal Health and 
Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP), Silver Spring, MD (Dr. Teri 
Rowles, Principal Investigator) has applied in due form for a permit to 
conduct enhancement and research activities on marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 16, 2008.

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)713-0376; and
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 212, Arlington, VA 22203 (1-800-358-
2104).
    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.

[[Page 14229]]

    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)713-0376, 
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. 932-1905/PRT-009526.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Carrie Hubard, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, (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 parts 18 and 216), the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 17 and 222-226), and 
the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The applicant requests authorization to (1) carry out activities 
pursuant to section 109(h), 112(c), and Title IV of the MMPA that 
involve threatened and endangered marine mammal species under NMFS 
jurisdiction; (2) harass marine mammals incidental to all MMHSRP 
activities in the U.S.; (3) conduct research activities on marine 
mammals in the U.S.; and (4) collect, receive, transfer, import, 
export, analyze, and curate marine mammal specimens.
    All threatened and endangered marine mammal species under NMFS 
jurisdiction are considered target species for stranding/emergency 
response activities. All species under NMFS jurisdiction are target 
species for research activities. Specimens from all species of marine 
mammals under NMFS or USFWS jurisdiction may be received, transferred, 
imported, exported, analyzed, and archived.
    Type and manner of take includes Level A harassment during 
emergency response and research activities including capture; sedation/
anesthesia; biological sampling (e.g., blood, blubber, muscle, 
respiratory gases, swabs); and removing entangling gear/material. Level 
B harassment may occur from close approach, hazing away from hazardous 
or harmful situations, photo-identification, and aerial and vessel 
surveys.
    The number of threatened and endangered animals that may be rescued 
and/or sampled is dependent on the number of incidents that occur and 
the ability to respond. The number of marine mammals that may be 
involved in research annually is as follows: approximately 400 
pinnipeds (all species); 200 small cetaceans (all species); and 100 
large whales (all species). An unlimited number of marine mammal 
specimens may be received, collected, imported, or exported annually.
    Non-target animals that may be incidentally harassed during any 
MMHSRP activity in the U.S. include any marine mammal under NMFS and 
USFWS jurisdictions. Geographic locations of the takes could include 
any area in the U.S. and U.S. waters. Specimen samples may be imported/
exported world-wide. The applicant has requested a 5-year permit.
    The NMFS MMHSRP has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321.et seq.). The DEIS includes analysis of activities 
proposed in this permit application. The DEIS is available on the 
following web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/eis.htm.
    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: March 7, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

    Dated: March 7, 2008.
Timothy J. VanNorman,
Chief, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E8-5307 Filed 3-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODES 3510-22-S, 4310-55-S