[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42009-42010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21067]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072398B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 782-1438

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, 
BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, has been issued an 
amendment to scientific research Permit No. 782-1438.

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s):
    Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289);
    Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, 
WA 98115-0070 (206/526-6150);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-
4213 (562/980-4001); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Shapiro or Ruth Johnson, 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 16, 1998, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (63 FR 32864) that an amendment of Permit No. 782-
1438, issued May 8, 1998 (63 FR 27265), had been requested by the 
above-named organization. The requested amendment has been granted 
under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the provisions of Sec. 216.39 of the 
Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 
CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the provisions of Sec. 222.25 of the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered fish and 
wildlife (50 CFR 222.23), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 782-1438 authorizes the National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory to take various large and small cetacean species through 
aerial surveys and harass several pinnipeds incidentally to these 
surveys.
    The amendment now authorizes the National Marine Mammal Laboratory 
to conduct delphinid and pinniped vessel surveys, and photo-identify 
and biopsy sample large cetaceans in order to estimate abundance, 
distribution, identify individuals, and determine stock structure.

[[Page 42010]]

    Issuance of this amendment, as required by the ESA was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the 
subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: July 31, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21067 Filed 8-5-98; 8:45 am]
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