[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42551-42552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16787]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ13


Marine Mammals; File No. 13392

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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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 been issued a permit to conduct research on 
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

ADDRESSES: The permit 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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 16, 2008, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (73 FR 28436) that a request for a scientific research 
permit to take the species indicated above had been submitted by the 
above-named individual. The requested permit has

[[Page 42552]]

been issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations 
governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The research will provide information to better understand the 
levels and impacts of persistent organic pollutants on the California 
coastal stock of bottlenose dolphins. Up to 60 individuals will 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 will 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.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: July 17, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-16787 Filed 7-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S