[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 11516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5251]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XU88
Marine Mammals; File No. 808-1735
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 Andrew Read, Ph.D., Duke
University Marine Laboratory, 135 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North
Carolina 28516, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research
Permit No. 808-1735.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before April 12, 2010.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File
No. 808-1735 from the list of available applications.
These documents are also available upon written request or by
appointment in the following offices:
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
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018;
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 e-mail to [email protected]. Please include the
File No. in the subject line of the e-mail 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: Amy Hapeman or Kristy Beard, (301)
713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 808-1735
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. 808-1735, issued on June 27, 2007 (72 FR 36429),
authorizes the permit holder to take humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae),
blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (B. physalus), sei (B. borealis), and
Antarctic minke (B. bonaerensis) whales in the Southern Ocean to
examine their foraging behavior relative to krill patches. The permit
authorizes the close approach of whales during vessel surveys for
photo-identification, behavioral observation, tracking, and incidental
harassment. A subset of whales may be suction-cup tagged during
surveys. The permit is valid through May 31, 2012. The permit holder is
requesting the permit be amended to include authorization for the take
of Arnoux's beaked whales (Berardius arnouxii) during vessel surveys in
the Southern Ocean. Up to 200 whales would be closely approached
annually for photo-identification, behavioral observation, and
incidental harassment. Dr. Read is also requesting 10 takes for the
suction-cup tagging of up 5 whales annually. The purpose of the
research is to gain information on the distribution, biology, ecology,
movement patterns, and behavior of these extremely rare marine mammals
and generate a catalog of known individuals that can then be used for a
mark-recapture experiment. The amendment would be valid for the life of
the permit.
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: March 4, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5251 Filed 3-10-10; 8:45 am]
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