[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]


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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.

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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