[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 24186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10304]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041100A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 978-1567

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Paul E. Nachtigall, Ph.D., 
Director, Marine Mammal Research Program, Hawaii Institute of Marine 
Biology, University of Hawaii, P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734, has 
applied in due form for a permit to take two species of cetaceans for 
purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before May 
25, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The application 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, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4027); and
    Protected Species Program Manager, Pacific Islands Area Office, 
NMFS, NOAA, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1110, Honolulu, Hawaii 
96814-4700 (808/973-2935).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed 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 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 by other 
electronic media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannie Drevenak, 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.) and the Regulations Governing the Taking 
and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant is requesting authorization to conduct scientific 
research (i.e., investigation of basic hearing processes, low frequency 
hearing capabilities, and echolocation systems) on two species of 
captive odontocete cetaceans: four (4) Atlantic bottlenose dolphins 
(Tursiops truncatus) and one (1) false killer whale (Pseudorca 
crassidens). Experimental trials will be conducted to: (1) obtain 
hearing thresholds and to measure the effects of sound on the hearing 
of the animals; and (2) obtain information on the dolphins' 
echolocation systems. The research will be conducted over a five-year 
period.
    Custody of the subject animals would be transferred from the U.S. 
Navy (SPAWARSYSCEN San Diego) to the University of Hawaii's Marine 
Mammal Research Program at The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. 
Since the animals are currently housed at the University of Hawaii, the 
animals' physical location will not change.
    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: April 18, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-10304 Filed 4-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F