[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 19194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7480]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XH01


Marine Mammals; File No. 10014-01

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the New Jersey Department of 
Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Science, Research and 
Technology, P.O. Box 409, Trenton, NJ 08625-0409, has applied in due 
form for an amendment to their Permit No. 10014 to allow them to take 
additional marine mammals during surveys for purposes of scientific 
research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before May 9, 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)427-2521; 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. 10014-01.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Opay or Kate Swails, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit amendment is requested 
under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing 
the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The NJDEP seeks permission to increase the number of marine mammals 
taken during research conducted to elucidate the distribution and 
abundance of baleen whales, odontocete whales, pinnipeds, and sea 
turtles. Research would include take by survey approach during 
shipboard and aircraft transect surveys. Researchers request 
authorization to take up to 2,500 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), 
3,200 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and 1,280 harbor 
porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) annually. The study area would continue 
to include U.S. waters offshore of southern New Jersey out to a 
distance of 20 nautical miles.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activity proposed will require a supplemental environmental 
assessment.
    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: April 3, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-7480 Filed 4-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S