[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 222 (Monday, November 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 69049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27516]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC862


Marine Mammals; File No. 18171

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 
Wessley Merten, Marine Sciences Department, University of Puerto Rico, 
Mayag[uuml]ez Campus, PO Box 9000, Mayag[uuml]ez, PR 00682, to conduct 
commercial or educational photography of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops 
truncatus), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), striped dolphins 
(Stenella coeruleoalba), false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), 
and killer whales (Orcinus orca) in waters off Puerto Rico.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
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; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosa L. Gonz[aacute]lez or Carrie 
Hubard, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 12, 2013, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (78 FR 56218) that a request for a permit to 
conduct commercial or educational photography 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).
    Permit No. 18171 authorizes commercial/educational underwater and 
vessel-based filming and photography of marine mammals in waters off 
Puerto Rico. Footage will be used in two documentaries, one focused on 
offshore sport fishing in Puerto Rico and another one focused on Puerto 
Rico's marine mammal and marine mammal program (i.e., Department of 
Natural and Environmental Resources Marine Mammal Rescue Program). The 
first documentary will be presented at a film festival in Puerto Rico 
and distributed to schools and the public throughout Puerto Rico. A 
maximum of 210 bottlenose, 210 spinner, and 210 striped dolphins, 60 
false killer and 60 killer whales, could be approached and filmed 
annually. Filming may occur year-round. The permit is valid through 
November 7, 2015.
    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: November 13, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27516 Filed 11-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P