67 FR 143 pgs. 48614-48615 - Marine Mammals; File No. 998-1678
Type: NOTICEVolume: 67Number: 143Pages: 48614 - 48615
Docket number: [I.D. 071602D]
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-18860 Filed 7-24-02; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 071602D]
Marine Mammals; File No. 998-1678
AGENCY:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Receipt of application.
SUMMARY:
Notice is hereby given that Dr. Gregory D. Bossart, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., 5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, has applied in due form for a permit to take bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) for purposes of scientific research.
DATES:
Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before August 26, 2002.
ADDRESSES:
The application and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s):
Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Trevor Spradlin or Lynne Barre, (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. ), and the Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
The applicant proposes to conduct a health assessment of bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, FL and the waters near Charleston, SC that would include the capture, examination, sampling, tagging and release of up to 400 animals (200 at each site) over a 5 year period. Dolphins of all age and sex classes would be captured except female-calf pairs containing calves presumed to be less than one year of age. Some individual dolphins may be harassed more than once per day but not more than three times per day. In addition, some individual dolphins may be captured more than once during the 5-year period, but not more than three times in any given year. The applicant also proposes to incidentally harass a maximum of 1,500 additional dolphins per site (FL and SC) during the process of locating individuals for health assessment examinations.
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.
Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 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.
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: July 18, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-18860 Filed 7-24-02; 8:45 am]
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