[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39272-39273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19513]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 071498B]


Marine Mammals

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 Mr. Dan Engelhaupt, 9195 Jamaica 
Beach, Galveston, TX 77554, has applied in due form for a permit to 
take several species of cetaceans for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
August 21, 1998.


[[Page 39273]]


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); and
    Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive 
Center Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813/570-5301).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted to the Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, 
F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Room 13130, 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) 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 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 (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 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered fish and 
wildlife (50 CFR 222.23).
    The applicant seeks authorization to conduct photo-identification 
and skin biopsy sampling activities on up to: 250 sperm whales 
(Physeter macrocephalus); 150 Pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella 
attenuata); 150 melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra); and 30 
individuals of each of the following species: Bryde's whales 
(Balaenoptera edeni), minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), rough-
toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), Fraser's dolphins (Lagenodelphis 
hosei), killer whales (Orcinus orca), pygmy killer whales (Feresa 
attenuata), dwarf sperm whales (Kogia simus), pygmy sperm whales (Kogia 
breviceps), Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus), Cuvier's beaked whales 
(Ziphius cavirostris), Blainville's beaked whales (Mesoplodon 
densirostris), Gervais' beaked whales (Mesoplodon europaeus), short-
finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), striped dolphins 
(Stenella coeruleoalba), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), 
Clymene dolphins (Stenella clymene), false killer whales (Pseudorca 
crassidens), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and Atlantic 
spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). Samples collected via the above 
biopsy dart sampling as well as extant samples of stored material 
obtained from National Marine Fisheries Services' Southeast Region 
would be exported to England for genetic analyses. The focus of the 
proposed study is to compare genotypic and phenotypic variability 
within and between cetacean populations in the Gulf of Mexico, and 
would be conducted over a 5-year period.
    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: July 15, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-19513 Filed 7-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F