# Marine Mammals; File No. 782-1438
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Issuance of permit amendment.
**SUMMARY:**
Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, (Dr. Sue Moore, Principal Investigator (PI)) has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 782-1438.
**ADDRESSES:**
The amendment 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;
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Ruth Johnson, (301) 713-2289.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
The requested amendment has been granted 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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 *et seq.* ), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 *et seq.* ).
Permit No. 782-1438, issued on issued on May 8, 1998 (63 FR 27265) authorizes the National Marine Mammal Laboratory to take various large and small cetacean species through photographic aerial surveys (Project I); biopsy sampling, tagging and photo-identification (Project II); small cetacean species and pinnipeds through vessel surveys (Project III); gray whales through biopsy sampling, tagging, photo-id and harassment (Project IV); and beluga whales by satellite-tagging, flipper tagging, VHF radio/time depth recorder(TDR) suction cup-tagging and biopsy sampling (Project V). The amendment increased the number of accidental mortalities in Project V to three during 2003. This Project will expire September 30, 2003.
Dated: January 28, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.