[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2888-2889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-932]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA148
Marine Mammals; File No. 16000
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Wild Horizons LTD, 59 Cotham Hill,
Cotham, Bristol, BS6 6JR, United Kingdom, has applied in due form for a
permit to conduct commercial or educational photography of bottlenose
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before February 17, 2011.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for
review 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;
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 e-mail to [email protected]. Please include File
No. 16000 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: Joselyd Garcia-Reyes or Kristy Beard,
(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) provides for photography for educational or commercial
purposes involving non-endangered and non-threatened marine mammals in
the wild.
Wild Horizons LTD requests a two-year photography permit to film
bottlenose dolphin strand feeding events in the estuaries and creeks of
Bull Creek and around Hilton Head, South Carolina. Filmmakers plan to
use two filming platforms: An inflatable 21ft boat and a helicopter. Up
to 2,500 dolphins annually may be approached and filmed. Filming would
occur over three to four week session and would be completed by August
2012. Footage would be used to create a 7-part television series, Wild
Planet: North America, for the Discovery Channel. The premise of the
series is to provide a definitive guide to the natural history of the
North American Continent and have a dedicated episode to each biome.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42
[[Page 2889]]
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 the application to the Marine
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
Dated: January 11, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-932 Filed 1-14-11; 8:45 am]
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