[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63079-63080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25713]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 100102C]
Marine Mammals; File Nos. 782-1694 and 782-1438
ACTION: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
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ACTION: Receipt of applications for permit and request to amend permit.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS, National Marine Mammal
Laboratory (NMML), 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Seattle, WA 98102, has
applied in due form for: (1) a permit to take an unspecified number of
specimen materials from dead animals of the Orders Cetacea and
Pinnipedia )(except walrus) for purposes of scientific research; and
(2) an amendment to permit 782-1438.
DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before
November 12, 2002.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for
review upon written request or by appointment (See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Jennifer Skidmore,
(301)713-2289.
[[Page 63080]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit and amendment 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.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting
of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
782-1694 - The applicant proposes to take an unspecified number
marine mammal specimen materials for scientific research. The objective
of the research is to use the data and specimen materials collected
from dead pinnipeds and cetaceans or receive samples from other
permitted researchers to obtain information about the biology and life
history of each of the species. Specimens from animals will be
collected and curated, imported or exported only when the specimens are
available from animals: 1) directly taken in countries and situations
where such taking is legal [e.g. Alaska Native subsistence harvest]; 2)
taken incidental to commercial fishing or other operations; 3) found
dead at sea or stranded; 4) found dead of natural causes; and 5) taken
legally under other research permits. Samples are requested to be taken
anywhere in the United States and imported/exported worldwide.
Permit 782-1438 authorizes the Holder to take beluga whales
(Delphinapterus leucas) by capture to satellite tag, flipper tag,
suction cup tag, biopsy sample and incidentally harass the animals. The
research is conducted in Alaskan waters, specifically the Gulf of
Alaska, Bristol Bay, Norton Sound, Kotzebue Sound and the Beaufort Sea.
The maximum number of unintentional mortalities currently authorized is
one animal annually. During capture operations in May 2002, a beluga
whale became entangled in the net and drowned.
The Holder now requests authority to increase the number of beluga
whales that may be accidentally killed during capture operations to
four (4) animals for the duration of the permit which expires September
2003. A beluga tagged in Cook Inlet in August 2002 was found dead a
week later. While the cause of death of the Cook Inlet animal is
unknown because a necropsy was not feasible, mortality could have been
related to capture or tagging. As a result, the Holder requests an
amendment to Permit 782-1438 to allow for additional unintentional
mortalities in 2003.
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, Conservation and
Education 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.
Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
Permits, Conservation and Education 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
Protected Resources Division, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand
Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)
526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
Both Permit actions - Protected Resources Division, Alaska Region,
NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907) 586-7235; fax
(907) 586-7012;
Protected Resources Division, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-
4020; fax (562) 980-4027;
Protected Species Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, NMFS, 1601
Kapiolani Blvd., Rm, 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 973-
2935; fax (808) 973-2941;
Protected Resources Division, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone (978) 281-9346; fax (978) 281-
9371;
Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St.
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (813) 570-5312; fax (813) 570-5517.
Dated: October 3, 2002.
Trevor R. Spradlin,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-25713 Filed 10-9-02; 8:45 am]
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