Marine Mammals; (PHF#s 801-1365 and 782-1384)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 061697C]

Marine Mammals; (PHF#s 801-1365 and 782-1384)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following applicants have

applied in due form for a permit to take marine mammals for purposes of

scientific research: Dr. William A. Kuperman, Director, Marine Physical

Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of

California, San Diego, CA 92152 (Co-investigators: Dr. Gerald L.

D'Spain and Mr. Aaron Thode); and Alaska Fisheries Science Center,

National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700,

Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (Principal Investigator: Dr. Howard Braham, Co-

Investigators: Dr. Robert DeLong, Patrick J. Gearin, Merrill E. Gosho,

David E. Withrow, and Herbert R. Sanborn).

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before July

30, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/

713-2289); and

PHF# 801-1365 (Dr. Kuperman) - Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West

Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 908023-4213 (310/980-4001).

PHF# 782-1384 (Dr. Braham, NMML) - Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600

Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (206/526-6150).

Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these

applications should be mailed to the Chief, Permits and Documentation

Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West

Highway, Room 13130, 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.

Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301) 713-0376,

provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and

postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Please

note that comments will not be accepted by email or other electronic

media. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are 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

[[Page 35157]]

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 222.23).

Dr. Kuperman (PHF# 801-1365) requests a permit to conduct acoustic

research to determine its effect on a variety of marine mammal species.

The specific purposes are to: localize and track marine mammals in

three dimensions (azimuth, range and depth) by listening to their

natural call behavior; evaluate the effect of low frequency manmade

noise on baleen whales; estimate the actual source signature emitted by

the animals themselves; use the vocalizations as loud sources of

opportunity to determine properties of the ocean environment; and

investigate the use of underwater acoustic recordings in marine mammal

census studies. These activities will occur in California waters.

Dr. Braham (PHF# 782-1384) requests authorization to take gray

whales (Eschrichtius robustus), over a 5-year period, in the following

manner: biopsy sample up to 100; radio tag up to 100; tag with short-

term visual tags up to 150. Additionally, inadvertently harass up to up

to 50 animals annually. The objectives are to determine: seasonal

distribution in Washington State waters; habitat utilization in the

Strait of Juan de Fuca and the northern Washington coast; duration of

their stay in Washington and the timing of their departure for the

southbound migration; and the level of organochlorine pollutants in

whales.

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.

Dated: June 23, 1997.

Art Jeffers,

Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected

Resource, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97-16958 Filed 6-27-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F