[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56218-56219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22186]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC862


Marine Mammals; File No. 18171

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 Wessley Merten, Marine Sciences 
Department, University of Puerto Rico, Mayag[uuml]ez Campus, PO Box 
9000, Mayag[uuml]ez, PR 00682, has applied in due form for a permit to 
conduct commercial or educational photography of bottlenose dolphins 
(Tursiops truncates), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), striped 
dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), False killer whales (Pseudorca 
crassidens), and killer whales (Orcinus orca) in waters off Puerto 
Rico.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before October 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: These documents are available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    Permits and Conservation 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, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation 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 and Conservation Division at the 
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

[[Page 56219]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosa L. Gonz[aacute]lez or Carrie 
Hubard, (301) 427-8401.

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.
    Wessley Merten requests a two-year photography permit to film and 
photograph bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates), spinner dolphins 
(Stenella longirostris), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), 
false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), and killer whales (Orcinus 
orca) in waters off Puerto Rico, specifically, out to 40 miles. Filming 
would be conducted underwater and from a small boat. Filming would 
occur throughout the year and be completed by July 2015. Footage would 
be used in a documentary of offshore sport fishing in Puerto Rico, 
endorsed by the Puerto Rico Sea Grant Program, and which would be 
distributed to schools and the public throughout Puerto Rico. In 
addition, footage would be used in a documentary about Puerto Rico's 
marine mammal and marine mammal program.
    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 the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: September 6, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-22186 Filed 9-11-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P