[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6578-6579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2799]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XN14


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14210 and 782-1719

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application and an application for 
amendment.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that LGL Alaska Research Associates 
(Dr. Tamara McGuire, Principal Investigator), 1101 E. 76\th\ Ave, Suite 
B, Anchorage, Alaska 99518 (File No. 14210), and the National Marine 
Mammal Laboratory (NMML), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (Dr. John L. 
Bengtson, Principal Investigator), 7600 Sand Point Way, NE., Seattle, 
Washington 98115-6349 (File No. 782-1719) have applied in due form for 
a permit and a permit amendment, respectively, to conduct research on 
the Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before March 12, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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. 14210 or 782-1719 from the list of available 
applications.

[[Page 6579]]

    These documents are also available 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; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.
    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 the 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 Nos. 14210 and 782-1719.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit and permit amendment are 
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).
    LGL Alaska Research Associates requests a 5-year permit to approach 
beluga whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska for photo-identification. The 
purpose of the research is to identify individual whales and to provide 
information about movement patterns, habitat use, survivorship, 
reproduction, and population size. The applicant requests to harass up 
to 54 belugas, up to 3 times each, between May and October each year.
    NMML requests an amendment to Permit No. 782-1719-07 to conduct 
aerial monitoring of beluga whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska, year-round. 
The objective is to survey the entire population at least once 
annually. Up to 585 belugas would be harassed annually during 20 aerial 
surveys flown at 800 feet. The purposes of the surveys are to (1) 
provide distribution information during June and July; (2) compare 
distribution changes over time; (3) provide group size estimates for 
calculations of stock size; (4) estimate fractions of calves and 
juveniles in the population; and (5) calibrate and improve survey 
methodology. The amendment would be valid until the permit expires.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of these applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: February 5, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-2799 Filed 2-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S