[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30427-30428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14281]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 053101G]


Marine Mammals; File No. 756-1630

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 Dan Tapster, BBC Natural History 
Unit, Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2LR, United 
Kingdom, has applied in due form for a permit to take bottlenose 
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for purposes of commercial/educational 
photography.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before July 
6, 2001.

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; 
phone (301) 713-2289; fax (301) 713-0376; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727) 570-5301; fax (727) 570-5320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Barre or Jill Lewandowski, (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.) and the Regulations Governing the Taking 
and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216). Section 104 (c)(6) 
of the MMPA provides for photography permits for educational or 
commercial purposes involving non-endangered and non-threatened marine 
mammals in the wild. NMFS is currently working on proposed regulations 
to implement this provision. However, in the meantime, NMFS has 
received and is processing this request as a ``pilot'' application for

[[Page 30428]]

Level B Harassment of non-listed marine mammals for photographic 
purposes.
    The applicant proposes to film up to 200 bottlenose dolphins 
feeding on the mud banks of Hilton Head, South Carolina for Sir David 
Attenborough's series, The Life of Mammals, which will air on the BBC 
in the United Kingdom and on The Discovery Channel in the United 
States. Filming will take place for approximately 17 days during the 
month of October, 2001.
    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: May 31, 2001.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-14281 Filed 6-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S