[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17639-17640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06593]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC544


Marine Mammals; File No. 17941

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Brian Skerry, 285 High Street, 
Uxbridge, MA 01569, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
commercial or educational photography on bottlenose (Tursiops 
truncatus) and spinner (Stenella longirostris) dolphins.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: These documents are available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376;
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 944-2200; fax (808) 973-2941; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the 
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

[[Page 17640]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Hubard or Kristy Beard, (301) 
427-8401.

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.) and the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). The applicant is 
requesting authorization to conduct two photography/filming projects. 
The first would consist of helicopter flights over Florida Bay to 
capture bottlenose dolphins mud-ring feeding. A maximum of 400 dolphins 
may be harassed during the filming. The second project would focus on 
areas where spinner dolphins and humans interact in Hawaii. Locations 
would include the west side of Oahu and four bays on the Kona coast of 
Hawaii Island. Methods include both vessel-based and underwater 
photography. Up to 75 spinner dolphins may be approached within 50 
yards during the filming. Four pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella 
attenuata) may also be approached if they are associated with spinner 
dolphins. Images and video from both locations will be used for a 
feature story in National Geographic Magazine on dolphin cognition and 
intelligence. Dolphin researchers familiar to each filming location are 
working as scientific advisors with the applicant. Both projects are 
currently scheduled for two week timeframes in summer 2013. To allow 
for scheduling changes, the permit would be valid until March 2014.
    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 the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: March 18, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-06593 Filed 3-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P