99-15720. Marine Mammals; File No. P466B  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 118 (Monday, June 21, 1999)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 33056]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-15720]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    [I.D. 060899A]
    
    
    Marine Mammals; File No. P466B
    
    AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
    Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
    
    ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment.
    
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    SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Scott D. Kraus, Ph.D., Edgerton 
    Research Laboratory, New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA 
    02110-3309, has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit 
    No. 1014.
    
    DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before July 
    21, 1999.
    
    ADDRESSES: The amendment request and related documents are available 
    for review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
    office(s):
        Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
    NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
    713-2289);
        Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn 
    Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, (978/281-9250); and
        Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive 
    Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813/570-5312).
        Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
    should be submitted to the Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, 
    F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
    Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals requesting a 
    hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this 
    particular amendment 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. Please 
    note that comments will not be accepted by e-mail or other electronic 
    media.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson 301/713-2289.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 1014, 
    issued on August 29, 1996 (61 FR 51688) is requested under the 
    authority 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), the Endangered Species 
    Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations 
    governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered fish and 
    wildlife (50 CFR parts 222-226).
        Permit No. 1014 authorizes the permit holder to: take up to 350 
    northern right whales (Eubaleana glacialis) by harassment during 
    approach closer than 100 feet by vessel or less than 1000 ft. by 
    aircraft. Of these 80 may be biopsy darted; 10 radio tagged, 15 
    satellite tagged, and 50 ultrasonically measured; collect tissue 
    samples dead stranded animals and exported to Canada, South Africa, New 
    Zealand, Australia and England; and export 100 samples taken legally in 
    other countries.
        The permit holder requests an amendment to: play sounds back to up 
    to 100 right whales annually. Sounds projected will not exceed the 
    sound pressure levels found in the normal oceanic environment. 
    Additionally, up to 50 whales will be tagged with suction-cup acoustic 
    recording tags to determine received sound levels from both playback 
    experiments and controlled vessel approaches.
        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: June 10, 1999.
    Ann D. Terbush,
    Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
    Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
    [FR Doc. 99-15720 Filed 6-18-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/21/1999
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Receipt of application for amendment.
Document Number:
99-15720
Dates:
Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before July 21, 1999.
Pages:
33056-33056 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
I.D. 060899A
PDF File:
99-15720.pdf