Permits: Marine mammals,

[Federal Register: December 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 249)]

[Notices]

[Page 73017]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29de99-55]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

[I.D. 110299C]

Marine Mammals; File No. 932-1489-01

AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Interior.

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding and Response Program (MMHSRP), National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, has been issued an amendment to scientific research and enhancement Permit No. 932-1489-01.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson 301/713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 25, 1999, notice was published in the Federal Register (64 FR 14435) that a request for a scientific research and enhancement permit to take all species in the Orders Cetacea, Pinnipedia, Sirena, and polar bear, sea otter and marine otter had been submitted by the above-named organization. The permit was issued July 2, 1999 (64 FR 37933) 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 parts 217-227), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.) to only take species of the Orders Cetacea and Pinnipedia (except walrus). The Permit is amended to include species of Order Sirenia and polar bear, sea and marine otters. The amendment is issued under authority of the above citations and the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq), applicable regulations (50 CFR part 18), ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq), and applicable regulations (50 CFR part 17).

Issuance of this permit, 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.

Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:

Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/ 713-2289);

Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221);

Northeast Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-9250 (978/281-9250);

Northwest Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070;

Southeast Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (727/570- 5301);

Southwest Region, National Marine fisheries Service, NOAA, 501 west Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4001);

Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822-2396 (808/ 943-1221);

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Management Authority, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 (1-800-358-2104);

Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, 6620 South Point Drive South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, FL 32216-0312 [904-232-2580, Fax: 904- 232-2404);

Field Supervisor, Ventura Field Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003 [805-644-1766, Fax: 805-644-3958]; and

Marine Mammals Management, 1101 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503- 6199 [907-786-3800, Fax: 907-786-3816).

Dated: December 20, 1999. Ann D. Terbush, Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

Dated: December 20, 1999. Kristen Nelson, Acting Chief, Branch of Permits, Office of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 99-33855Filed12-28-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODES 3510-22-F, 4310-55-F