[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 96 (Friday, May 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 28436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11017]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XH75


Marine Mammals; File No. 13392

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Thomas A. Jefferson, NMFS 
Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La 
Jolla, CA 92037, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
research on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before June 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)427-2521; and
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.
    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. 13392.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Swails or Carrie Hubard, 
(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.), and the regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The proposed research would provide up-to-date information to 
better understand the levels and impacts of persistent organic 
pollutants on the California coastal stock of bottlenose dolphins. Up 
to 60 individuals would be photo-identified and biopsied over the 
course of the five year permit. Killer whales (Orcinus orca), harbor 
porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), and bottlenose dolphins could be 
incidentally harassed during the proposed research. The sampling would 
occur mainly in Monterey Bay but may also occur in other locations 
along California.
    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 is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    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: May 12, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-11017 Filed 5-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S