[Federal Register: September 23, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 184)]
[Notices]               
[Page 51518-51519]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23se99-50]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 091399E]

 
Marine Mammals; File No. 987 (File No. P598)

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 Dr. Jim Darling, Box 384, Tofino, 
B.C., Canada VO4 2Z0, has requested an amendment to scientific research 
Permit No. 987.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
October 25, 1999.
ADDRESSES: The amendment request and related documents are available 
for

[[Page 51519]]

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, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4001); and
    Protected Resources Program Manager, Pacific Islands Area Office, 
NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700 (808/
973-2937).
    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: Jeannie Drevenak or Trevor Spradlin, 
301/713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 987, 
issued on January 18, 1996 (61 FR 2232) 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 and 
threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    Permit No. 987 authorizes the permit holder to take (i.e., harass) 
annually up to 1000 humpback whales and 500 humpback whales in Hawaii 
and Alaska, respectively, during the course of behavioral, photo-
identification, and genetic studies, of which up to 200 animals may be 
biopsy sampled annually. The permittee is now requesting that the 
permit, including the annual take authorization, be extended for an 
additional year.
    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: September 17, 1999.
Ann Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24762 Filed 9-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F