10170 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 44 / Wednesday, March 7, 2007 / Notices 

appointment (See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION). 

Written comments or requests for a 

public hearing on this request should be 

submitted 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 amendment 

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 email comments is 

NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include 

in the subject line of the e-mail 

comment the following document 

identifier: File No. 782–1719–05. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy Hapeman or Carrie Hubard, 

(301)713–2289. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

subject amendment to Permit No. 782–

1719–00, issued on June 30, 2004 (69 FR 

44514) and most recently amended on 

November 14, 2006 is requested under 

the authority of the Marine Mammal 

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations 

governing the taking and importing of 

marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). 

Permit No. 782–1719–04 authorizes 

NMML to take all species of cetaceans 

under NMFS jurisdiction during stock 

assessment activities throughout U.S. 

territorial waters and the high seas of 

the North Pacific Ocean, Southern 

Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. The permit 

authorizes Level B harassment during 

close approach for aerial surveys, 

vessel-based surveys, observations, and 

photo-identification and Level A 

harassment during biopsy sampling and 

attachment of scientific instruments. 

NMML requests an increase in the 

number of biopsy samples from and 

attachment of scientific instruments to 

gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) to 

study the animals during their 

northward migration and expand their 

spring sampling activities in the Bering 

Sea and the waters of Washington and 

Kodiak Island, Alaska. NMML requests 

to increase the number of non-ESAlisted killer whales (Orcinus orca) that 

may be biopsy sampled and have 

scientific instruments attached to 

examine killer whale diet and 

movement patterns, as directed by the 

Marine Mammal Commission. NMML 

also requests harassment during close 

approach for aerial and vessel surveys, 

photo-identification, tagging, and biopsy 

sampling of non-endangered dwarf 

sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), pygmy 

sperm whale (Kogia simus), roughtoothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), 

Hawaii spinner dolphin (Stenella 

longirostris), striped dolphin (Stenella 

coeruleoalba), and melon-headed whale 

(Peponocephala electra) in the North 

Pacific Ocean to develop reliable 

abundance estimates and examine stock 

structure. The amended permit, if 

issued, would be valid until the permit 

expires on June 30, 2009. 

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. 

Documents may be reviewed in the 

following locations: 

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; 

Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand 

Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, 

Seattle, WA 98115–0700; phone 

(206)526–6150; fax (206)526–6426; 

Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 

21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668; phone 

(907)586–7221; fax (907)586–7249; 

Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West 

Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, 

CA 90802–4213; phone (562)980–4001; 

fax (562)980–4018; and 

Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 

Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, Honolulu, HI 

96814–4700; phone (808)973–2935; fax 

(808)973–2941. 

Dated: February 28, 2007. 

Tammy C. Adams, 

Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and 

Education Division, Office of Protected 

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–3899 Filed 3–6–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[I.D. 022807D] 

Marine Mammals; File Nos. 605–1607 

and 605–1904 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; withdrawal of 

amendment request; receipt of 

application. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Whale Center of New England (Mason 

Weinrich, Principal Investigator), P.O. 

Box 159, Gloucester, MA 01930 has 

withdrawn a request to amend Permit 

No. 605–1607–02 and has applied in 

due form for a new permit (File No. 

605–1904) to conduct research on 

humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), 

fin (Balaenoptera physalus), and sei 

(Balaenoptera borealis) whales. 

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail 

comments must be received on or before 

April 6, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: The application 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; 

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. 

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 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 44 / Wednesday, March 7, 2007 / Notices 10171 

NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include 

in the subject line of the e-mail 

comment the following document 

identifier: File No. 605–1904. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy Hapeman or Jaclyn Daly, 

(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 Whale Center of New England 

requests a 5–year scientific research 

permit to continue population 

monitoring of humpback, fin, and sei 

whales in North Atlantic waters of the 

northeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S. 

Research would help determine baleen 

whale population status and trends, 

assess prey availability and whale-prey 

interactions, and help develop a 

technique to age whales from biopsy 

samples. The applicant is requesting to 

harass 400 humpback, 250 fin, and 100 

sei whales by close approach for vessel 

surveys and photo-identification 

annually. The applicant also requests to 

biopsy sample 75 humpback and 75 fin 

whales annually, up to 20 of which for 

each species may be young calves. The 

applicant also requests to suction-cup 

tag 40 humpback, 20 fin, and 25 sei 

whales greater than six months of age 

annually. With this new permit 

application, the request for an 

amendment to Permit No. 605–1607–02, 

published on April 7, 2004 (69 FR 

18357), has been withdrawn. 

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: February 28, 2007. 

Tammy C. Adams, 

Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and 

Education Division, Office of Protected 

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–3900 Filed 3–6–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[I.D. 030107E] 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council (Council); Public Meetings 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meetings. 

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council (Council) will 

convene public meetings. 

DATES: The meeting will be held March 

26 - 30, 2007. See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION for specific dates and 

times. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Embassy Suites, 570 Scenic Gulf 

Drive, Destin, FL 32550. 

Council address: Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council, 2203 

North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, 

FL 33607. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director, 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Council 

Thursday, March 29, 2007 

8:30 a.m. - The Council meeting will 

begin with a review the agenda and 

minutes. 

8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m. - Public testimony 

on exempted fishing permits (EFPs), if 

any. 

9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - The Council will 

hold an Open Public Comment Period 

regarding any fishery issue or concern. 

People wishing to speak before the 

Council should complete a public 

comment card prior to the comment 

period. 

The Council will then review and 

discuss reports from the previous three 

day’s committee meetings as follows: 

1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Joint Reef Fish/ 

Shrimp Management; 

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Reef Fish 

Management; 

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - CLOSED 

SESSION for Advisory Panel (AP) and 

Scientific and Statistical Committee 

(SSC) Section Committees and Reef Fish 

Committee; 

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - NMFS Public 

Scoping Session on guidance for use of 

the annual catch limits. 

Friday, March 30, 2007 

8:30 a.m. - The Council meeting will 

reconvene to continue reviewing and 

discussing reports from the previous 

three day’s committee meetings as 

follows: 

8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. - Mackerel 

Management; 

9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Joint Reef Fish/ 

Mackerel/Red Drum; 

9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. - Budget/ 

Personnel; 

9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m. - Data Collection; 

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. - Administrative 

Policy; and 

11 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Other Business 

items. 

Committees 

Monday, March 26, 2007 

1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - CLOSED SESSION 

- The AP Selection Committee will meet 

to appoint AP members. 

3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. - CLOSED SESSION 

- The SSC Selection Committee will 

meet to appoint SSC, Stock Assessment 

Panel (SAP) and Socioeconomic Panel 

(SEP) members. 

5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - The Budget/ 

Personnel Committee will meet to 

discuss the State Liaison Budget 

Increases. 

Tuesday March 27, 2007 

8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. - The Joint Reef 

Fish/Shrimp Management Committee 

will meet to review Southeast Fishery 

Science Center (SEFSC) Analyses Runs. 

The Committee will also review the 

current Public Hearing Draft of Reef 

Fish Amendment 27/Shrimp 

Amendment 14 and the SSC’s 

recommendations; the NMFS’ FEIS and 

Interim Rule for Red Snapper; the 

SEFSC Report on Release Mortality in 

Relation to Depth and Dolphin 

Predation, the Framework Action to 

Revise the List of Allowable bycatch 

reduction devices (BRDs); NMFS 

Interim Rule for Red Snapper; and an 

Options Paper for Reef Fish Amendment 

31/Shrimp Amendment 15. 

1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - The Joint Reef 

Fish/Shrimp Management Committee 

continues. 

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 

8:30 a.m. - 12 noon - The Reef Fish 

Management Committee will meet to 

discuss the updates on Reef Fish 

Amendment 29; the Ad Hoc Grouper 

Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) AP 

recommendations for an IFQ program; 

the Guidelines for a Referendum for 

Grouper/Tilefish IFQ; the Scoping 

Document for Amendment 30; 

PARTIALLY CLOSED SESSION - the 

formation of an Ad Hoc Recreational 

Red Snapper AP for developing new 

ideas to manage recreational and forhire red snapper fisheries. 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES