[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 25 (Monday, February 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6386-6387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2662]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XN13


Marine Mammals; File No. 1039-1699

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 Ann Zoidis, Cetos Research 
Organization, 11 Des Isle Avenue, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, has applied 
for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 1039-1699-01.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before March 11, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are 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; and
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)944-2200; fax (808)973-2941.
    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. 1039-1699.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 1039-
1699, issued on June 30, 2004, is requested 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).
    Permit No. 1039-1699-01 authorizes the permit holder to conduct 
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) research, including photo-
identification, behavioral observations, and passive acoustics in the 
waters off Hawaii. Several species of non-listed, small whales and 
dolphins may also be studied. The permit holder is requesting an 
amendment to take up to 100 minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) 
in the waters off Hawaii annually. Minke whales would be approached for 
photo-identification. The purpose of the new research is to investigate 
the abundance, distribution, and behavior of this species, which has 
not been thoroughly studied in Hawaii. The amended permit would expire 
on June 30, 2009.
    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 6387]]


    Dated: February 4, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-2662 Filed 2-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S