02-17331. Marine Mammals; File No. 738-1454-04

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Issuance of permit amendment.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that Ms. Carole Conway, Genomic Variation Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Meyer Hall, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-3322, has been issued a minor amendment to scientific research Permit No. 738-1454-03.

ADDRESSES:

The amendment 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 [phone]; fax [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Skidmore or Ruth Johnson, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The subject amendment has been issued 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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing endangered and threatened marine species(50 CFR parts 222-226).

This amendment extends the expiration date for the importation and exportation of blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) samples from June 30, 2002, to May 31, 2003.

Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

Dated: June 28, 2002.

Jill Lewandowski,

Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.