[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 67053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33475]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 121797D]


Marine Mammals; Permit No. 965 (P66J)

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 Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526, has requested an amendment 
to permit no. 965.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
January 22, 1998.
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
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 (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. 965, 
issued on June 19, 1995 (60 FR 34233) 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).
    Permit no. 965 authorizes the permit holder to: to take a maximum 
of 125 Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) by trapping, darting, 
sampling, and gas anesthesia (including a maximum of 20 by recapture 
for follow-up blood sampling and removal of instruments); a maximum of 
400 Steller pups over 6 months old by hand capture, gas anesthesia, and 
marking; a maximum of 10,000 Stellers by harassment during the course 
of capturing suitable animals; a maximum of 15 Stellers by 
unintentional mortality during the course of capture and chemical 
immobilization and salvaged specimens of stranded animals, premature 
pups, and mortalities associated with this and other research 
activities. The holder is also authorized to take up to 30 
rehabilitated California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) by 
injection with experimental immobilization drugs and a maximum of 3 for 
unintentional mortality. All takes will be over a 5-year period.
    The permit holder requests amendment to the permit for: Underwater 
capture of 10 additional (25 total) juvenile Steller sea lions through 
use of a leash around their necks, with the opposite end of the leash 
attached to a buoy at the surface; and use of diazepam, xylazine, or 
medetomidine as a sedative with either flumazenil, tolazoline, or 
atipamezole as the reversal agent.
    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: December 18, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-33475 Filed 12-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F