[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 201 (Thursday, October 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61398-61399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24597]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XL21


Marine Mammals; File No. 633-1763

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 Center for Coastal Studies 
(CCS) has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 633-
1763.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before November 17, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/index.cfm, and then 
selecting File No. 633-1763 from the list of available applications. 
These documents are also available 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.
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, 
Florida 33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
    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 the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 633-1763.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 633-
1763, issued on April 21, 2005 (70 FR 22299) is 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), and the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Permit No. 
633-1763 authorizes the permit holder to harass North Atlantic right 
whales (Eubalaena glacialis) during close approaches for aerial and 
vessel surveys with associated photo-identification and behavioral 
observations in the Gulf of Maine, Cape Cod Bay, Great South Channel, 
and Georgia Bight, and the collection and export of sloughed right 
whale skin. The original application submitted by CCS included a 
request to collect biopsy samples from North Atlantic right whales. At 
the time of permit issuance, takes for biopsy samples were not 
authorized. NMFS is now reviewing the biopsy sample portion of the 
request as an amendment to Permit No. 633-1763. CCS requests 
authorization to biopsy sample up to 30 North Atlantic right whales 
annually during close vessel approaches for photo-identification and 
behavioral observation; authorization is requested to biopsy up to 10 
of these right whales two times to contribute to individual whale's 
health assessments. This work would continue long-term population 
monitoring to determine status and trends of this species in the North 
Atlantic. The amendment would be valid until the permit expires on May 
1, 2010.
    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.


[[Page 61399]]


    Dated: October 9, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-24597 Filed 10-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S