[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 27307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11566]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA426


Marine Mammals; Photography Permit Application No. 16360

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 Oceanic Nature Film Productions 
(Responsible Party: Dietrich Paulmann), P.O. Box 301 722, Albany 0752, 
Auckland, New Zealand has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
commercial/educational photography of cetaceans off Hawaii.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before June 10, 2011.

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) 713-0376; 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 
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) 713-0376, 
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. 16360.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of Sec.  104(c)(6) 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). Section 
104(c)(6) provides for photography for educational or commercial 
purposes involving non-endangered and non-threatened marine mammals in 
the wild.
    The applicant requests a four-month photography permit to film 
cetaceans in the waters off Kona, Hawaii. Using one or two sailing 
catamarans as a base, filmmakers would conduct surface and underwater 
photography. Additionally, a passive acoustic array would be towed to 
obtain marine mammal vocalizations. The applicant has identified 12 
species of cetaceans that would be approached for filming. The permit 
would not authorize approaches of species listed as threatened or 
endangered. Up to 50 animals from each species may be harassed as a 
result of filming. Footage would be used in a feature film intended to 
educate the public about marine mammal conservation issues, as well as 
the importance of the Pacific islands to the oceans. Filming would 
occur over a four-month period in summer and fall 2011.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    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: May 5, 2011.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-11566 Filed 5-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P