[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 177 (Friday, September 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48062-48063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24229]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 090497B]


Marine Mammals; Permit No. 837 (File No. P771#67)

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand 
Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Seattle, Washington 98115, has requested an 
amendment to permit no. 837.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
October 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request and related documents are available 
for review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907) 586-7221.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted to the Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, 
F/PR1, 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 
particular amendment request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301) 713-0376, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Please 
note that comments will not be accepted by email or other electronic 
media. 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 amendment to permit no. 837, 
issued on June 4, 1993 (58 FR 33085) 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.), the regulations governing the taking, 
importing, and exporting of endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR 
222.23), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et 
seq.).
    Permit no. 837 authorizes the permit holder to: harass up to 
222,720 northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and 3500 California 
sea lions (Zalophus californianus) while conducting ground surveys; 
capture, restrain, shear-mark, sample and handle up to 30,000+ northern 
fur seals over a 5-year period; and collect parts from dead animals. 
The permit holder now requests authorization to collect biopsies from 
60 additional female northern fur seals, (30 seals on St. Paul, 30 
seals on St. George). The permittee is currently authorized to

[[Page 48063]]

collect 120 biopsy samples. The total number of biopsy samples would 
therefore increase to 180 (90 from each island).
    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: September 5, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-24229 Filed 9-11-97; 8:45 am]

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