[Federal Register: August 25, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 164)]
[Notices]               
[Page 45228-45229]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au98-34]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 072498A]

 
Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center,

[[Page 45229]]

Honolulu Laboratory, NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822-
2396, has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 
848-1335.

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
    1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4001); and
    Protected Species Program Manager, Pacific Area Office, Southwest 
Region, NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822-2396 (808/
973-2987).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannie Drevenak, 301/713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 22, 1998, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (63 FR 29360) that an amendment of Permit No. 848-
1335, issued June 10, 1997 (62 FR 32586), had been requested by the 
above-named organization. The requested 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 (ESA) 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 part 222). The amendment provides 
authorization for the relocation or removal of up to 10 adult male 
Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) from the Northwestern 
Hawaiian Islands, in the event that such seals are known to cause 
mortality to nursing or weaned pups. Emergency authorizations under 
Permit 848-1335 were granted on May 22 1998 and May 26, 1998, for the 
relocation to Johnston Atoll of two of these 10 animals.
    Issuance of this amendment, 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: August 11, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-22775 Filed 8-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F