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Marine Mammals; File No. 731-1509-01

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: November 20, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 224)]
[Notices]
[Page 69738-69739]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20no00-37]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110300C]


Marine Mammals; File No. 731-1509-01

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 Robin Baird, Ph.D., 2 Supanee
Court, French's Road, Cambridge CB4 3LB, UNITED KINGDOM, has requested
an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 731-1509-01.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before
December 20, 2000.

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, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point
Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (206/526-6426);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, 501 West Ocean Boulevard,
Suite 4200, Long Beach, California 90802-4213, (562/980-4021); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, Federal Building, Room 461,
709 West 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska 99802, (907/586-7235).
    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: Jill Lewandowski, (301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 731-
1509-01, issued on November 24, 1999 (64 FR 67563-67564) 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.), the
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No.731-1509-01 authorizes the applicant to conduct radio
tagging via suction-cup attachment, photo-identification, and
behavioral observations of species of cetaceans in the waters of
Washington, Southeast Alaska, Oregon, California, Hawaii, and the
Mediterranean and Ligurian Seas in order to study diving behavior of
the subject cetacean species. The authority of this permit expires on
July 31, 2004.
    The applicant is now forwarding three requests. (1) Increase
suction cup tagging takes of Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
in Hawaii from 15 to 35 annually. (2) Increase harassment takes
incidental to suction cup tagging of Humpback whales (Megaptera
novaeangliae) in Hawaii from 25 to 50 annu Globicephala macrorhynchus
ally. (3) Allow for biopsy sampling of cetacean species in the
following waters:
     (a) Mediterranean and Ligurian Seas- 30 takes for each species of
Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Risso's dolphin (Grampus
griseus), Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus
),Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba); 15 takes for Fin whales
(Balaenoptera physalus); and 45 takes for Sperm whales (Physeter
macrocephalus).
     (b) Hawaii- 60 takes for each species of Killer whale (Orcinus
orca), Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), Melon-
headed whale (Peponocephala electra), False killer whale (Pseudorca
crassidens), Pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), Spinner dolphin
(Stenella longirostris), Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella
attenuata), Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), Risso's dolphin
(Grampus griseus), Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis),
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia
simus), Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), Bottlenose whale
(Hyperoodon sp.), Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), Cuvier's
beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Blainville's beaked whale
(Mesoplodon densirostris), Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni); and 45
takes for each species of Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), Sei
whale (Balaenoptera borealis), Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae),
Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus),
and Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis).
    (c) California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska- 60 takes for each
species of Killer whale (Orcinus orca), Short-

[[Page 69739]]

finned pilot whale (Globcephala macrorhynchus), Melon-headed whale
(Peponocephala electra), False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens),
Pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), Spinner dolphin (Stenella
longirostris), Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata),
Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), Long-beaked common dolphin
(Delphinus capensis), Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis),
Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), Northern right whale dolphin
(Lissodelphis borealis), Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus
obliquidens), Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), Bottlenose
dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli),
Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus),
Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), Bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon sp.),
Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), Cuvier's beaked whale
(Ziphius cavirostris), Hubbs' beaked whale (Mesoplodon carlhubbsi),
Stejneger's beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri), Ginkgo-toothed whale
(Mesoplodon ginkgodens), Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon
densirostris), Hector's beaked whale (Mesoplodon hectori), Gray whale
(Eschrichtius robustus); and 45 takes for each species of Sei whale
(Balaenoptera borealis), Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Fin
whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), and
Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis).
    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.
    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 13705, 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.

    Dated: November 15, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-29639 Filed 11-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

 
 

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