Marine Mammals; File No. 707-1531-00

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 091599D]

Marine Mammals; File No. 707-1531-00

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

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the University of Hawaii at Manoa,

College of Social Sciences, Hawaii Hall 105, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822,

has applied in due form for a permit to take North Pacific humpback

whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) for purposes of scientific research.

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

October 25, 1999.

Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this

application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits and Documentation

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

Highway, Room 13705, 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 e-mail or by other

electronic media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannie Drevenak, 301/713-2289.

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.), 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

regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of

endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR 222-226).

The applicant is requesting authorization to harass up to 750 North

Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) annually during the

course of tracking and photographing/filming the animals for purposes

of behavioral observation, individual identification, gender

identification, size measurement, documentation of group membership and

affiliations, and recording of vocalizations. The research will be

carried out over a five-year period in waters of the North Pacific

Ocean, with primary emphasis on the whales' Hawaiian winter grounds.

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.

Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:

Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources,

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/

713-2289);

Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point

Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (206/526-6426);

Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean

Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4027);

Protected Species Program Manager, Pacific Islands Area Office,

NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822-2941 (808/973-

2987); and

Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 W. 9th

Street, Federal Building, Room 461, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802

(907/586-7235).

Dated: September 15, 1999.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 99-24761 Filed 9-23-99; 8:45 am]

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