[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 42 (Friday, March 1, 1996)] [Notices] [Page 8043] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-4751] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [I.D. 022696B] Marine Mammals AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Receipt of application to modify permit no. 873 (P77(2) #63). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, CA 92038-0271, has requested a modification to Permit No. 873. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 1, 1996. ADDRESSES: The modification request and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s): Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289); Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4001); and Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, NMFS, NOAA, 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 9682-2396 (808/973-2987). Written data or views, or requests for a public hearing on this request should be submitted to the Chief, Permits Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannie Drevenak, 301/713-2289. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification 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), 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 fish and wildlife (50 CFR parts 217-222). The Permit Holder is currently authorized to harass (i.e., through vessel approach, photogrammetry, and photographic identification, and tissue biopsy) several marine mammal species in Pacific, Southern, and Indian Oceans, over a 5-year period. The Permit Holder is now requesting emergency modification of the Permit for authorization to increase the number of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to be biopsy sampled from 20 to 100 for 1996, including 15 cow/calf pairs (i.e., 30 animals), in Hawaiian waters during the 1996 field season. In light of the Permittee's need to begin sampling activities in March 1996, or otherwise lose a unique research opportunity, we are considering whether this action meets legal criteria for granting the requested modification prior to the close of the 30-day comment period. 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: February 26, 1996. Ann D. Terbush, Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 96-4751 Filed 2-26-96; 4:53 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P