[Federal Register: February 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 40)]
[Notices]
[Page 10744]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28fe08-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF56
Marine Mammals; File No. 605-1904
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Whale Center of New England
(Mason Weinrich, Principal Investigator), P.O. Box 159, Gloucester, MA
01930 has been issued a permit to conduct research on humpback
(Megaptera novaeangliae), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), and sei
(Balaenoptera borealis) whales.
ADDRESSES: The permit 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;
Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg,
Florida 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Jaclyn Daly, (301)
713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 7, 2007, notice was published in
the Federal Register (72 FR 10170) that a request for a scientific
research permit to take humpback, fin, and sei whales had been
submitted by the above-named organization. The requested permit 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 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 parts 222-226).
Permit No. 605-1904, issued to The Whale Center of New England,
allows for the harassment of humpback, fin, and sei whales along the
U.S. Atlantic coast to: 1) continue population monitoring; 2) determine
whether humpback whale life history parameters change with their
population status; 3) determine the importance of Jeffrey's Ledge as an
aggregation area; 4) determine how humpback and fin whales relate to
their prey and use the environment; 5) develop an aging technique from
biopsy samples; and 6) determine the effect that prey resources have on
the distribution, behavior and social organization of whales. The
permit authorizes the close approach of 400 humpback, 250 fin, and 100
sei whales for vessel surveys, photo-identification, tracking, and
incidental harassment annually. The permit also authorizes the biopsy
sampling of 115 humpback, 95 fin, and 25 sei whales annually during
such approaches. For humpback and fin whales, up to 20 samples for each
species may be collected annually from young calves at least 3 months
old. During approaches, researchers may suction-cup tag 40 humpback, 20
fin, and 25 sei whales greater than six months of age annually. The
permit is issued for five years.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an environmental assessment was prepared
analyzing the effects of the permitted activities. After a Finding of
No Significant Impact, the determination was made that it was not
necessary to prepare an environmental impact statement.
Issuance of this permit, 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 such endangered species; and (3) is
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the
ESA.
Dated: February 21, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-3838 Filed 2-27-08; 8:45 am]
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