Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit (PHF 924-1484-00)

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Issuance of permit.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that Marsha Green, Ph.D., Psychology Department, Albright College, P.O. Box 15234, Reading, PA 19612-5234, has been issued a permit to take (i. e., harass) humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) for purposes of scientific research.

ADDRESSES:

The permit and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:

Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289);

Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4027) and

Pacific Islands Area Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1110, Honolulu HI 96814-4700 (808/973-2935).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeannie Drevenak, 301/713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On December 21, 1998, notice was published in the Federal Register (63 FR 70395) that a request for a scientific research permit to take (i.e., harass) North Pacific humpback whales during the course of vessel effects studies, had been submitted by the above-named individual. The requested permit has been issued 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 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 and threatened species (50 CFR Parts 222 - 226).

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.