[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 131 (Friday, July 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 40338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17194]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RIN 0648-XA545]


Marine Mammals; Photography Permit No. 16360

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to 
Oceanic Nature Film Productions (Responsible Party: Dieter Paulmann), 
P.O. Box 301 722, Albany 0752, Auckland, New Zealand to conduct 
commercial/educational photography of cetaceans off Hawaii.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376; and
Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, Honolulu, 
HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 944-2200; fax (808) 973-2941.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Hubard or Laura Morse, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 11, 2011, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (76 FR 27307) that a request for a permit to conduct 
commercial/educational photography on 12 cetacean species had been 
submitted by the above-named applicant. The requested permit has been 
issued 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). Section 
104(c)(6) provides for photography for educational or commercial 
purposes involving non-endangered and non-threatened marine mammals in 
the wild.
    Oceanic Nature Film Productions is authorized to film cetaceans in 
the waters off Kona, Hawaii. Using one or two sailing catamarans as a 
base, filmmakers can conduct surface and underwater photography. 
Additionally, a passive acoustic array may be towed to obtain marine 
mammal vocalizations. Twelve species of cetaceans may be approached for 
filming. The permit does not authorize approaches of species listed as 
threatened or endangered. Up to 50 animals from each species may be 
harassed as a result of filming. Footage will be used in a feature film 
intended to educate the public about marine mammal conservation issues, 
as well as the importance of the Pacific Islands to the oceans. The 
permit expires on October 31, 2011.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: July 1, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-17194 Filed 7-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P