[Federal Register: June 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 118)]
[Notices]               
[Page 33056]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jn99-36]                         

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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]
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