[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 87 (Friday, May 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 19907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10994]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 041996A]


Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Issuance of scientific research permit no. 999 (P5I)

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Donald B. Siniff, University 
of Minnesota, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, has been 
issued a permit to ``take'' by Level A harassment, Hawaiian monk seals 
(Monachus schauinslandi) 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);
    Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Boulevard, Suite 
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4016); and
    Protected Species Program Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, 
Southwest Region, NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822-
2396 (808/973-2987).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 30, 1996, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (61 FR 3002) that the above-named applicant had 
submitted a request for a scientific research permit to ``take'' by 
Level A harassment (i.e., capture, restrain, chemically sedate, 
instrument, release, and recapture for instrument removal) up to 20 
adult male, and up to 10 adult female Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus 
schauinslandi) from the population at French Frigate Shoals, over an 
18-month period. Up to five additional animals (regardless of gender) 
were also requested to be taken by Level A harassment in the event that 
attachment procedures must be prematurely terminated. The objective of 
the research is to investigate Hawaiian monk seal movements and 
foraging patterns using satellite-linked time-depth recorders to 
characterize habitat use. Authorization for the taking of adult males 
has been granted, with authorization for the taking of adult females 
contingent upon future review by both the National Marine Fisheries 
Service and the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Team. 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 (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), and the Regulations Governing the Taking, Importing, and 
Exporting of Endangered Fish and Wildlife (50 CFR part 222).
    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.

    Dated: April 26, 1996.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-10994 Filed 5-2-96; 8:45 am]
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