[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 209 (Friday, October 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64432-64433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27699]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 101900A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 775-1600

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 Michael Sissenwine, Northeast 
Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Room 312, 
166 Water St., Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1097, has applied in due 
form for a permit to take seven species of baleen whales, twenty 
species of odontocete and four species of pinnipeds for purposes of 
scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
November 27, 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-

[[Page 64433]]

West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289); and 
Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; 
phone (508) 281-9250; fax (508) 281-9371.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Simona Roberts, 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 parts 222-227).
     The Northeast Fisheries Science Center seeks permission to conduct 
research on seven species of baleen whales, twenty species of 
odontocetes and four species of pinnipeds. The study area would include 
all waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, including international waters, 
from the equator to latitude 80 degrees N except for territorial waters 
of other nations. The principal purpose of the research, for all 
species, relates to stock assessment (notably, but not limited to, 
estimation of abundance and determination of population structure); 
this is an activity for which NMFS has primary responsibility under the 
MMPA. Aerial surveys for right whales will be flown at a minimum 
altitude of 500 feet for the purpose of stock assessment as well to 
alert mariners of their presence. Types of take include potential 
harassment through approach (shipboard /aerial), biopsy sampling, 
acoustic sampling, tagging, and (for pinnipeds) tag/release. Permission 
is also sought to import and export material (including soft and hard 
tissue, blood, extracted DNA, and whole dead animals or parts thereof) 
to and from any country.
    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.
    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.
    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: October 23, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-27699 Filed 10-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22 -S