[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3881-3882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1934]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 012098A]


Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permits (559-1442 and P524B)

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that applications have been received 
from the following individuals to take marine mammals for purposes of 
scientific research:
    (559-1442) Mr. Salvatore Cerchio, Museum of Zoology, University of 
Michigan, 1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079, has applied in 
due form for a permit to import humpback whale samples from Mexico; and
    (P524B) Dr. Shannon Atkinson, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, 
Univ. of HI, 1000 Pope Road MSB #213, Honolulu, HI 96822, has applied 
in due form for an amendment to Permit No. 969.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
February 26, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289);
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298 (508/281-9250); and
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802-
4213 (310/980-4001).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these 
applications should be mailed 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 a 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 email or 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.

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 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR 222.23).
    Mr. Salvatore Cerchio requests a permit to import 1000 humpback 
whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) biopsy tissue samples from Mexico. 
Samples have already been collected or will be collected under permits 
issued by the Mexican Government. The goals of the project are to 
assess paternity and test whether there is a large variance in 
repreductive success among males, typical of polygynous systems, or if 
paternities are distributed randomly.
    Dr. Shannon Atkinson requests an amendment to Permit No. 969 to 
import the reproductive tract tissues, blood, plasma and serum of 
Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) taken from the 
subpopulation that inhabits the coast of Mauritania in North Africa and 
was involved in the 1997 die-off. Samples will be imported from Spain, 
where they are currently in storage. The applicant also requests 
authority to collect and/or import the same samples from all species of 
pinnipeds (except walrus) involved in beachings, strandings, die-offs, 
and taken during normal veterinary procedures on rehabilitated animals. 
The objective is to evaluate repreductive

[[Page 3882]]

hormone concentrations, obtained from blood samples, with respect to 
reproductive status of male and female monk seals, and other pinnipeds.
    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.

    Dated: January 21, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-1934 Filed 1-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F