[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 151 (Friday, August 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47537-47538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19469]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XX98
Marine Mammals; File No. 14352
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for amendment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Gregory Bossart, Georgia
Aquarium, 225
[[Page 47538]]
Baker Street, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30313, has applied for an amendment
to Scientific Research Permit No. 14352.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before September 7, 2010.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for
review upon written request or by appointment in the following
office(s):
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
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg,
Florida 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
Written comments on this application should be submitted to the
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the address
listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-
0376, or by email to [email protected]. Please include the File
No. in the subject line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division at the address listed above. The request should set forth the
specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be
appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Hubard or Kristy Beard, (301)
713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14352 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).
Permit No. 14352, issued on October 15, 2009, authorizes the permit
holder to capture and release bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
for health assessment purposes in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL),
Florida. Captured dolphins receive a complete clinical workup
including: measurements, weight, photographs, sample collection, freeze
brand, and ultrasound. The holder is requesting the permit be amended
to include a second study area in the vicinity of Charleston, South
Carolina. Fifty bottlenose dolphins would be captured, sampled, and
released annually. Females with calves less than one year old would not
be captured. Captured dolphins would receive the same clinical workup
as is authorized in the IRL. All captured animals would receive a roto
tag. Up to ten animals per year would also receive a VHF tag. An
experienced veterinarian would be on site during captures and the
dolphins' vital signs would be closely monitored. Processing would take
about forty minutes. Individual dolphins would only be sampled once per
year. Samples would be analyzed to examine a variety of health topics
such as: infectious diseases, immune status, contaminant exposure,
antibiotic resistance, and genetics. An additional 400 dolphins per
year may be harassed during pre- and post-capture surveys. The
objectives of the new study area are the same as the IRL project and
having two study areas will allow comparisons between dolphin
populations. The amended permit would be valid until October 31, 2014.
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: August 2, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-19469 Filed 8-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S