# Endangered Species and Marine Mammals; File No. 10014-01
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Notice; issuance of permit amendment.
**SUMMARY:**
Notice is hereby given that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Science, Research and Technology, P.O. Box 409, Trenton, NJ 08625-0409 has been issued a permit amendment to take marine mammals 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, 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)427-2521; and
Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Patrick Opay or Kate Swails, (301)713-2289.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
On April 9, 2008, notice was published in the *Federal Register* (73 FR 19194) that a request to amend Permit No. 10014 had been submitted by the above-named organization. The requested permit amendment has been issued under the authority of the the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 *et seq.* ), and the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
The permit amendment authorizes the NJDEP to take up to 2,500 common dolphins ( *Delphinus delphis* ), 3,200 bottlenose dolphins ( *Tursiops truncatus* ), and 1,280 harbor porpoises ( *Phocoena phocoena* ) annually through December 31, 2012. The study area would continue to include U.S. waters offshore of southern New Jersey out to a distance of 20 nautical miles.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 *et seq.* ), an environmental assessment was prepared analyzing the effects of the permitted activities. After a Finding of No Significant Impact, the determination was made that it was not necessary to prepare an environmental impact statement.
Issuance of this permit amendment was based on a finding that it is consistent with the purposes and policies of the MMPA and ESA. It is believed that the research will further a bona fide scientific purpose and does not involve unnecessary duplication.
Dated: May 30, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.