[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 46874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18617]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG81


Marine Mammals; File No. 1121-1900

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NOAA Fisheries Office of Science 
and Technology (Principal Investigator: Dr. Brandon Southall), Silver 
Spring, MD, has been issued an amendment to Permit No. 1121-1900 to 
conduct research on marine mammals.

ADDRESSES: The permit amendment 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; http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/review.htm; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, 
Florida 33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams or Jolie Harrison, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 2, 2008, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (73 FR 17957) that a request for an amendment to 
Scientific Research Permit No. 1121-1900 to take beaked whales (Ziphius 
cavirostris and Mesoplodon spp.) and other odontocete species had been 
submitted by the above-named institution (permit holder). The requested 
permit amendment has been issued 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 (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, 
importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 
parts 222-226).
    The permit amendment extended the duration of the permit to allow 
conduct of three additional annual field seasons, and modified the 
protocols for playback experiments as requested by the permit holder. 
The amended permit authorizes research involving temporary attachment 
of scientific instruments (digital archival recording tags), photo-
identification, and exposure to controlled levels of natural and 
anthropogenic underwater sounds, including signals simulating mid-
frequency sonar. Sloughed skin samples collected from the detached 
instrument would be imported into the U.S. for analysis. The permit is 
valid through January 1, 2011.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a supplemental environmental assessment was 
prepared analyzing the effects of the permitted activities. After a 
Finding of No Significant Impact, the determination was made that it 
was not necessary to prepare an environmental impact statement.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: August 6, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-18617 Filed 8-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S