Proposed Rules. Receipt of application

Agency: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce
Action: Receipt of application
Citation: FR Doc. 00-22827 · I.D. 083000F

Summary

Notice is hereby given that Terrie M. Williams, Ph.D., Department of Biology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 has applied in due form for a permit to take Atlantic bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) and California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus ) for purposes of scientific research.

Dates

Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before October 6, 2000.

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 examine the physiological response of dolphins and sea lions during swimming and diving. Testing will involve measuring locomotor, thermal and maintenance costs in animals. Data from these animals will be compared to similar results reported for a wide variety of mammals differeing in aquatic specialization from terrestrial to semi-aquatic and finally to other species of marine mammal. 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 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. 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: August 30, 2000. Eugene Nitta, Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 00-22827 Filed 9-5-00; 8:45 am]