Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 247 / Tuesday, December 23, 2008 / Notices 78725

File No. 13599: The NOS Lab has been for formal consideration and action, if DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE issued a permit authorizing the receipt, appropriate. importation, exportation, transfer, National Oceanic and Atmospheric archive, and analysis of marine mammal DATES: This meeting will be held on Administration Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 9 a.m. and endangered parts. This RIN 0648–XL41 permit includes all cetaceans, pinnipeds ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at (except for walrus), sea turtles (in the the Crowne Plaza, 801 Greenwich Marine Mammals; File No. 10080 water), smalltooth sawfish (Pristis Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries pectinata), shortnose sturgeon (401) 732–6000; fax: (401) 732–0261 (Acipenser brevirostrum) and white Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and ( sorenseni) under Council address: New England Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NMFS jurisdiction. No live takes Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Commerce. or incidental harassment of Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment. would is authorized under this permit. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Samples will be archived at the NOS J. Howard, Executive Director, New SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Lab and used to support law England Fishery Management Council; Kathryn A. Ono, Department of enforcement actions, research studies telephone: (978) 465–0492. Biological Sciences, University of New (primarily genetics), and outreach England, Biddeford, ME has been issued education. This permit is valid for five SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The a major amendment to Permit No. years. committee will review and make final 10080–02. In compliance with the National recommendations to the Council on the ADDRESSES: The permit amendment and Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 range of alternatives that should be related documents are available for U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final analyzed under Amendment 15. review upon written request or by determination has been made that the The primary goal of Amendment 15 is appointment in the following office(s): activities proposed are categorically to consider alternatives to comply with Permits, Conservation and Education excluded from the requirement to new requirements of the reauthorized Division, Office of Protected Resources, prepare an environmental assessment or Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room environmental impact statement. Management Act, specifically 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone Issuance of these permits, as required implementing annual catch limits. In (301)713–2289; fax (301)427–2521; and by the ESA, was based on a finding that addition, this action is considering Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great such permits: (1) were applied for in alternatives to address excess capacity Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930; good faith; (2) will not operate to the in the limited access scallop fishery. phone (978)281–9300; fax (978) 281– disadvantage of such endangered 9333. species; and (3) are consistent with the Alternatives are being considered that are designed to provide more flexibility FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: purposes and policies set forth in Tammy Adams or Kate Swails, section 2 of the ESA. for efficient use of the resourse such as permit stacking and leasing of days at (301)713–2289. Dated: December 16, 2008. sea and/or access area trips. Lastly, this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On P. Michael Payne, action is considering a number of October 27, 2008, notice was published Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education alternatives to adjust several aspects of in the Federal Register (73 FR 63697) Division, Office of Protected Resources, the overall scallop management program that a request for an amendment Permit National Marine Fisheries Service. such as revising the overfishing No. 10080–02, to conduct research on [FR Doc. E8–30369 Filed 12–22–08; 8:45 am] definition, specific adjustments to the gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the BILLING CODE 3510–22–S Gulf of Maine, had been submitted by general category management program, the above-named applicant. The a specific alternative to address requested permit amendment has been DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE essential fish habitat (EFH) closures on issued under the authority of the Marine Georges Bank, adjustments to the Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as National Oceanic and Atmospheric current scallop research set-aside amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and Administration program, and changing the scallop the regulations governing the taking and fishing year from March 1 to May 1. RIN: 0648–XM34 importing of marine mammals (50 CFR Special Accommodations part 216). New England Fishery Management The amended permit includes Council; Public Meeting This meeting is physically accessible authorization to: (1) remotely mark the to people with disabilities. Requests for pelage of adult gray seals of both sexes AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries sign language interpretation or other (200 per year) using the various dyes Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul and paints already permitted for use on Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), J. Howard, Executive Director, at (978) pups; (2) use an additional type of Commerce. 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the marking agent, an alcohol based- dye (Rhodamine B 500%), on pups and ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. meeting date. adults; (3) disturb an additional 400 SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. non-target gray seals per year during the Management Council (Council) is Dated: December 17, 2008. additional marking activities; and (4) scheduling a public meeting of its disturb an additional 300 gray seals Tracey L. Thompson, Scallop Committee, in January, 2009, to annually during field camp operations consider actions affecting New England Acting Director, Office of Sustainable associated with conduct of the research. fisheries in the exclusive economic zone Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. The amendment also authorizes the (EEZ). Recommendations from this [FR Doc. E8–30362 Filed 12–22–08; 8:45 am] incidental research-related mortality of group will be brought to the full Council BILLING CODE 3510–22–S up to four gray seal pups annually.

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