[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 145 (Thursday, July 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45232-45233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19124]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA597


Marine Mammals; File No. 16443

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that David Honig, Nicholas School of 
the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Marine Lab 
Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, has applied in due form for a permit to 
collect, receive, import, export, possess, and conduct analyses marine 
mammal specimens for scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before August 29, 2011.

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 home 
page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 16433 
from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available 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) 427-8401; 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 e-mail to [email protected]. Please include File 
No. 16433 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

[[Page 45233]]

above. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing 
on this application would be appropriate.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and 
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and 
threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    The objectives of this research are to study the ecological 
importance of whales and characterize the impacts of whaling on animals 
nutritionally dependent on sunken whale remains in the Antarctic. 
Research will involve collection, import, export, possession, and 
analyses of bones of sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) and minke 
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whales which originated from Sweden and 
Chile. Collection would involve retrieval of a lander on which the 
whale bones have been placed on the bottom of the Weddell Sea, 
Antarctica by foreign researchers and under other authorizations. Bones 
would be imported into the U.S. for analyses. No live animals would be 
harassed or taken, lethally or otherwise, under the permit. The permit 
is requested for a five-year period.
    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: July 22, 2011.
P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits,
Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-19124 Filed 7-27-11; 8:45 am]
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