[Federal Register: August 6, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 150)]
[Notices]
[Page 43626-43627]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06au07-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB72
Marine Mammals; File No. 10018
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Rachel Cartwright, 5277 West
Wooley Road, Oxnard, CA 93035, has applied in due form for a permit to
conduct research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
September 5, 2007.
ADDRESSES: The application 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 (301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; and
Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110,
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)973-2935; fax (808)973-2941.
Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427-2521,
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for
providing e-mail comments is
[[Page 43627]]
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the e-mail
comment the following document identifier: File No. 10018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandy Hutnak or Carrie Hubard,
(301)713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 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 the taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
The applicant seeks a five year permit to study the behavior and
dynamics of humpback whale female and calf pairs in the waters off of
Maui, Hawaii, including waters of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale
National Marine Sanctuary. Up to 540 takes for close vessel approach,
photo-identification, focal follows, underwater observations,
collection of sloughed skin, and incidental harassment are requested
annually to test the hypotheses that behavior, dynamics and
distribution of female/calf pairs varies between different stocks and
may be influenced by abiotic factors such as aspects of bathymetry,
water quality, and levels of vessel traffic. Incidental harassment of
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), spinner dolphins (Stenella
longirostris), pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), false
killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), and pilot whales (Globicephala
sp.) is also requested. 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: August 1, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-15232 Filed 8-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S