[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 54 (Thursday, March 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13367-13368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6975]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 031397B]


Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit (PHF# 850-1342)

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Lucy W. Keith, Boston University 
Marine Program, Broderick House/MBL, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, 
has applied in due form for a permit to take Hawaiian monk seals 
(Monachus schauinslandi) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, 
Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4001); and
    Protected Species Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, 2570 Dole 
Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822-2396 (808/973-2987).
    Written data or views, or requests for a public hearing on this 
request, should be submitted to the Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the 
specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be 
appropriate.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested 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 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered fish and 
wildlife (50 CFR 222.23).
    The application requests authorization to capture, physically 
restrain, and radio tag (and possibly recapture for tag removal) up to 
20 immature monk seals of either gender (10 weaned pups, and 10 
juveniles up to 3 years of age) over an eight month period in 1997. The 
applicant also requests authorization to inadvertently harass up to 10 
additional seals of any age and gender during the course of the tagging 
activities. Research activities will involve population assessment, 
disease assessment, recovery action, and pelagic ecology studies.
    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.


[[Page 13368]]


    Dated: March 13, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-6975 Filed 3-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F