[Federal Register: December 2, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 231)]
[Notices]               
[Page 67563-67564]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02de99-31]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 110899C]

 
Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit (PHF# 731-1509-01)

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 Dr. Robin Baird, Biology 
Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4J1 Canada, 
has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 731-
1509-00.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannie Drevenak, 301/713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 13, 1999, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (64 FR 25875) that Dr. Robin W. Baird had applied in 
due form for a permit to take several species of cetaceans for purposes 
of scientific research. Permit No. 731-1509-00 was subsequently issued 
on July 23, 1999, which authorized a portion of the requested 
activities (i.e., photo-identification and suction cup tagging of non-
listed species of cetaceans in the Pacific Ocean, and sperm whales 
(Physeter macrocephalus) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the 
Mediterrean and Ligurian Seas. The permit has now been amended to 
authorize the taking of listed species of cetaceans in the Pacific 
Ocean.
    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).
    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.
    The permit 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

[[Page 67564]]

Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289);
    Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point 
Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (206/526-6426);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4027);
    Protected Species Program Manager,Pacific Islands Area Office, 
NMFS, NOAA, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1110, Honolulu, Hawaii 
96814-4700 (808/973-2935); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 W. 9<SUP>th</SUP> 
Street, Federal Building, Room 461, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 
(907/586-7235).

    Dated: November 26, 1999.
Thomas J. McIntyre,
Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-31308 Filed 12-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F