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Marine Mammals; File No. 1121-1900

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[Federal Register: August 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 156)]
[Notices]
[Page 46874]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12au08-36]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG81

Marine Mammals; File No. 1121-1900

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NOAA Fisheries Office of Science
and Technology (Principal Investigator: Dr. Brandon Southall), Silver
Spring, MD, has been issued an amendment to Permit No. 1121-1900 to
conduct research on marine mammals.

ADDRESSES: The permit amendment and related documents are available for
review upon written request or by appointment in the following
office(s):
    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; http://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/review.htm; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg,
Florida 33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams or Jolie Harrison,
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 2, 2008, notice was published in
the Federal Register (73 FR 17957) that a request for an amendment to
Scientific Research Permit No. 1121-1900 to take beaked whales (Ziphius
cavirostris and Mesoplodon spp.) and other odontocete species had been
submitted by the above-named institution (permit holder). The requested
permit amendment 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).
    The permit amendment extended the duration of the permit to allow
conduct of three additional annual field seasons, and modified the
protocols for playback experiments as requested by the permit holder.
The amended permit authorizes research involving temporary attachment
of scientific instruments (digital archival recording tags), photo-
identification, and exposure to controlled levels of natural and
anthropogenic underwater sounds, including signals simulating mid-
frequency sonar. Sloughed skin samples collected from the detached
instrument would be imported into the U.S. for analysis. The permit is
valid through January 1, 2011.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a supplemental 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: August 6, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-18617 Filed 8-11-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

 
 

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