[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 35411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15155]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA495


Marine Mammals; File No. 16000

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Wild 
Horizons LTD, 59 Cotham Hill, Cotham, Bristol, BS6 6JR, United Kingdom 
to conduct commercial/educational photography.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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 Southeast Region, 
NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701; phone 
(727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joselyd Garcia-Reyes or Kristy Beard, 
(301) 713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 18, 2011, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (76 FR 2888) that a request for a permit to 
conduct commercial/educational photography of bottlenose dolphins 
(Tursiops truncatus) had been submitted by the above-named applicant. 
The requested permit has been issued 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).
    Wild Horizons LTD is authorized to film bottlenose dolphin strand 
feeding events in the estuaries and creeks of Bull Creek and around 
Hilton Head, South Carolina. Filmmakers may use two filming platforms: 
an inflatable 21ft boat and a helicopter. Up to 500 dolphins annually 
may be approached and filmed. Footage will be used to create a 7-part 
television series, Wild Planet: North America, for the Discovery 
Channel. The premise of the series is to provide a definitive guide to 
the natural history of the North American Continent and have a 
dedicated episode on each biome. The permit will expire August 31, 
2012.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: June 13, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-15155 Filed 6-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P