[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75084-75085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29204]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XM16


Marine Mammals; File No. 13927

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 Associated Scientists at Woods 
Hole (ASWH) (Dr. James Hain, Principal Investigator), Box 721, Woods 
Hole, MA 02543, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
research on North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) and other 
cetacean species.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before January 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES:  The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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 
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. 13927.

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

[[Page 75085]]


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.), 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 222-226).
    ASWH requests a five-year permit to conduct scientific research 
focusing primarily on North Atlantic right whales, with a secondary 
focus on humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and fin (Balaenoptera 
physalus) whales. The purposes of the right whale research include: (1) 
to improve knowledge of right whale habitat utilization; (2) to monitor 
the population in a portion of the southeast U.S. right whale critical 
habitat; (3) to contribute to the right whale photo-identification 
catalog; (4) to characterize the shallow water acoustic environment and 
right whale vocalizations; and (5) to examine sightability from 
different types of platforms. The feeding behavior of right, fin, and 
humpback whales would also be studied using aerial platforms.
    The main study areas are the waters off northeast Florida in 
December through April and the waters off Cape Cod, MA in the summer 
months. Research could occur year round in Atlantic waters from Maine 
to Florida. The majority of the research would involve aerial surveys 
conducted from a variety of platforms, including airplanes, blimps, and 
aerostats. A maximum of 50 fin and 50 humpback whales could be harassed 
annually during aerial surveys. Seventy-five right whales may be 
harassed annually during aerial surveys. Twenty other cetacean species, 
including endangered sperm (Physeter macrocephalus), sei (Balaenoptera 
acutorostrata), and blue (Balaenoptera musculus) whales, may be 
incidentally harassed during aerial surveys. Two pinniped species and 
four species of sea turtles (loggerhead (Caretta caretta), leatherback 
(Dermochelys coriacea), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), green 
(Chelonia mydas)) may also be incidentally harassed as a result of 
aerial surveys.
    Vessel surveys would also be conducted in U.S. southeast waters. 
Close approaches to right whales would be made to collect photo-
identification, behavioral and passive acoustic data. ASWH proposes to 
use both motorized (10 right whales harassed annually) and non-
motorized (i.e., kayaks) (5 right whales harassed annually) vessels in 
their research.
    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: December 4, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-29204 Filed 12-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S