Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 78 /Thursday, April 23, 1998 / Notices 20171

to PUDDC on April 10, 1998 and

authorizes takes of juvenile,

endangered, naturally produced and

artificially propagated, upper Columbia

River steelhead associated with two

research studies. Study 1 is designed to

determine the survival and migration

differences of juvenile fish as they pass

downstream through Lake Pateros and

Wells Dam. The information will be

used to determine the appropriateness

of utilizing selected surrogate stocks in

future survival studies in the midColumbia River. Study 2 is designed to

understand the status of juvenile

salmonid migration at Wells Dam. ESAlisted juvenile fish will be lethally taken

by fyke nets. Permit 1116 expires on

December 31, 2002.

Notice was published on December

17, 1997 (62 FR 66053) that an

application had been filed by HFAC for

a scientific research permit. Permit 1065

was issued to HFAC on April 15, 1998.

Permit 1065 authorizes takes of adult

and juvenile, threatened, southern

Oregon/northern California coast coho

salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in

California, associated with fish

population studies in the Freshwater

Creek drainage within the evolutionarily

significant unit. The studies consist of

coho salmon abundance and spawner

surveys for which ESA-listed fish are

proposed to be taken. ESA-listed fish

will be captured, handled, and released.

ESA-listed salmon indirect mortalities

associated with the research are also

authorized. Permit 1065 expires on June

30, 2003.

Dated: April 20, 1998.

Patricia A. Montanio,

Deputy Director, Office of Protected

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98–10868 Filed 4–22–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 041698F]

Marine Mammals; Permit No. 1031

(P623)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application for

amendment.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

Ms. D. Ann Pabst, Biological Sciences

and Center for Marine Science Research,

The University of North Carolina at

Wilmington, 601 South College Road,

Wilmington, North Carolina 28403–

3297, has requested an amendment to

Permit No. 1031.

DATES: Written comments must be

received on or before May 26, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request

and related documents are available for

review upon written request or by

appointment in the following office(s):

Permits Division, Office of Protected

Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West

Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring,

MD 20910 (301/713–2289);

Regional Administrator, Northeast

Region, National Marine Fisheries

Service, One Blackburn Drive,

Gloucester, MA 01930–2298 (508/281–

9250);

Regional Administrator, Southeast

Region, National Marine

Fisheries Service, 9721 Executive

Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL

33702–2432 (813/570–5301).

Written data or views, or requests for

a public hearing on this request should

be submitted to the Chief, Permits

Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected

Resources, National Marine Fisheries

Service, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeannie Drevenak, 301/713–2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

subject amendment 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).

The Permit Holder is currently

authorized to conduct photoidentification studies, acoustic

recording, and aerial and vessel surveys,

on up to 1,200 humpback whales

(Megaptera novaeangliae) annually over

a five year period. In addition, the

following non-target species may be

harassed during the course of the

research: North Atlantic right whales

(Eubalaena glacialis), fin whales

(Balaenoptera physalus), Atlantic

bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops

truncatus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena

phocoena), beaked whales (Mesplodon

sp.), and pelagic dolphins (Stenella sp.).

The primary goal of the research is to

identify potential anthropogenic causes

of mortality of humpback whales

(Megaptera novaeangliae)in the midAtlantic Ocean.

The Holder is now requesting that the

Permit be amended to: (1) expand the

geographic coverage of the research to

include offshore waters to the

continental shelf from Cape Fear, North

Carolina north to the mouth of Delaware

Bay; (2) increase the number of takes of

animals currently authorized to be

harassed under the permit; and to add

sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)

and common dolphins (Delphinus

delphis) to the species authorized to be

harassed. The purpose of the

amendment is to conduct increased

numbers of offshore aerial and vessel

surveys to more thoroughly identify the

temporal and spatial distribution of

humpback whales and other cetacean

species.

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 20, 1998.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98–10867 Filed 4–22–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety

Commission, Washington, DC 20207.

‘‘FEDERAL REGISTER’’ CITATION OF

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT: 63 FR 17994

April 13, 1998.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED TIME AND DATE OF

MEETING: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 23,

1998.

CHANGES IN MEETING: The Commission

briefing on the FY 1998 Mid-Year

Review is canceled. The meeting has

been rescheduled for Thursday, April

30, 1998.

For a recorded message containing the

latest agenda information, call (301)

504–0709.

CONTACT PERSON FOR ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION: Sadye E. Dunn, Office of

the Secretary, 4330 East West Highway,

Bethesda, MD 20207 (301) 504–0800.