[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 86 (Monday, May 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 24422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11669]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 042497D]


Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit (PHF# 859-1373)

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 the United States Air Force, 30th 
Space Wing, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA 93437-5320, has applied in 
due form for a permit to take California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus), Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi), and 
northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) for purposes of 
scientific research.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 4, 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).
    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.) and the Regulations Governing the Taking and 
Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The purpose of the proposed research is to study the effects of 
noise from rocket launches and subsequent sonic booms on pinnipeds 
inhabiting Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) and the Northern Channel 
Islands (NCI). Up to 25 California sea lions, 60 Pacific harbor seals 
(if available, rehabilitated beached/stranded harbor seals will be used 
in ABR studies at VAFB), and 25 northern elephant seals per year may be 
taken by capture, chemically sedation, blood sampling, measurement of 
auditory brainstem response, flipper tagging, and attachment/retrieval 
of telemetry instruments. Not all animals may be subjected to all 
procedures and some animals will be captured a second time for 
instrument recovery. Up to 200 California sea lion pups and up to 500 
northern elephant seal pups will be roto-tagged annually. Up to 5,000 
California sea lions, 600 Pacific harbor seals, and 2,000 northern 
elephant seals may be taken by incidental disturbance caused by capture 
or census activities annually. Although mortality from the proposed 
activities is not anticipated, it is possible that undetected health 
problems may lead to aberrant reactions to the immobilizing drugs and 
therefore permission is requested for the accidental mortality of up to 
2 animals of each species annually. 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.

    Dated: April 24, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-11669 Filed 5-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F