[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 110 (Friday, June 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32307-32308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12716]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XI31


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 715-1706 and 545-1761

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for amendments.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that Fred Sharpe, Ph.D., Alaska Whale 
Foundation, 4739 University Way NE, 1239, Seattle, Washington 
98105 has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 751-
1706-00; and North Gulf Oceanic Society (Craig O. Matkin, Principal 
Investigator), 2030 Mary Allen Avenue, Homer, AK 99603 has requested an 
amendment to Permit No. 545-1761-00.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before July 7, 2008.

[[Page 32308]]


ADDRESSES:  The amendment requests 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
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted 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 amendment 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 e-mail comments the following document identifiers: 
File No. 716-1705 (Fred Sharpe) or File No. 545-1761 (North Gulf 
Oceanic Society).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Carrie Hubard, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendments to Permit No. 716-
1705-00, issued on June 30, 2004, and Permit No. 545-1761-00 issued on 
September 16, 2005, are requested 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 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, 
importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 
222-226).
    Permit No. 716-1705-00 authorizes Dr. Sharpe to conduct research on 
the behavior, social structure, and foraging ecology of North Pacific 
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), including close approach for 
photo-identification and behavioral observation, takes by acoustic 
recordings and playbacks of conspecific sound, and takes by suction cup 
tagging with Crittercam/TDR dive tags. Dr. Sharpe is also permitted to 
conduct opportunistic photo-identification and behavioral observation 
of killer whales (Orcinus orca). Research occurs in the waters of 
southeastern Alaska including Chatham Strait, Dixon Entrance, Cross 
Sound, and Icy Strait and the waters of Washington state. The permit 
expires on June 30, 2009.
    The permit holder requests authorization to use a novel filming 
technique, a mini-helicopter, during an opportunistic, limited time 
period in southeast Alaska during July and August 2008. The applicant 
indicates that the use of the mini-helicopter would provide information 
that could be used for: (1) predicting energetic models of lunge-
feeding humpback whales; (2) discerning physical positioning to 
determine whether lunge-feeding whales maintain specialized positions; 
and (3) studying the functional morphology of engulfment feeding. Such 
information would complement the already permitted behavioral study of 
lunge-feeding humpback whales. Based on video documentation of the use 
of the mini-helicopter to film humpback whales in foreign waters, this 
technique is not expected to result in added harassment to the whales, 
and in fact, is expected to reduce potential harassment from boat 
approaches.
    Permit No. 545-1761-00 authorizes the North Gulf Oceanic Society to 
conduct population studies on numerous cetacean species with a 
particular emphasis on killer whales. The research focuses on the study 
of: (1) mating and social systems and feeding behavior of killer 
whales; and (2) diving behavior, feeding, movement and contaminant 
loads of several cetacean species. Takes may occur by close approach 
for vessel surveys, photo-identification, behavioral observation, 
passive acoustic recording, tagging, biopsy sampling, export of parts, 
and incidental harassment. Research takes place in waters off Alaska, 
including Glacier Bay/Icy Strait, Sitka Sound, Prince William Sound, 
Kenai Fjords, Resurrection Bay, Eastern Aleutian chain, and Kodiak 
Island. The permit expires on September 15, 2010.
    The permit holder requests authorization to use the same mini-
helicopter, during an opportunistic, limited time period in Alaska 
during August/September 2008. The mini-helicopter would be used to 
measure total body length of killer whales in order to assess 
individual growth, make population size comparisons, and model the 
energetic requirements of killer whales. Data obtained from the mini-
helicopter would allow researchers to obtain proportional measurements 
of blowhole-dorsal and full body length, which can be used to construct 
a regression to describe this relationship.
    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: June 2, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-12716 Filed 6-5-08; 8:45 am]
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