[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 2037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-608]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA929


Marine Mammals; Photography Permit File No. 17032

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Shane Moore, Moore & Moore Films, 
Box 2980, 1203 Melody Creek Lane, Jackson, WY 83001, has applied in due 
form for a permit to conduct commercial or educational photography on 
killer (Orcinus orca) and gray (Eschrichtius robustus) whales in 
Alaska.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before February 13, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3f7172796c116f4d0e7c5052525a514b4c7f51505e5e11585049"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3977747f6a17694b087a5654545c574d4a7957565858175e564f">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include the File No. in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the 
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Hubard or Joselyd Garcia-Reyes, 
(301) 427-8401.

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 a five-year permit to film gray and 
killer whales in the eastern Aleutian Islands, primarily near Ikatan 
Bay and along the Ikatan Peninsula on the south side of Unimak Island, 
Alaska. The purpose of the project is to document killer whales hunting 
gray whales migrating through False Pass and Unimak Pass. In addition, 
the filmmaker hopes to document the behavior of marine animals in the 
presence of a gray whale carcass. Filming would occur between April and 
June of each year. A maximum of 35 killer whales and 10 gray whales 
could be closely approached annually. Footage would be obtained from 
vessel-mounted cameras, a polecam that would be submerged next to the 
boat, and, as the opportunity arises, from a remotely operated video 
camera in an underwater housing placed on the sea floor near a gray 
whale carcass. The applicant would share footage with the scientific 
community as it may reveal to what extent killer whales continue to 
feed on submerged kills, how they feed on these carcasses, and document 
what other animals may benefit from these carcasses as well. Footage 
would be used for a television program about predators and the 
challenges they face.
    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 the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: January 10, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-608 Filed 1-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>