[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 471-472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-154]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 122397C]


Marine Mammals; Permit No. 974, File No. P368F

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 Dr. James T. Harvey, Moss Landing 
Marine Laboratories, P.O. Box 450, Moss Landing, CA 95039, has 
requested an amendment to Permit No. 974.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
February 5, 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
    William Hogarth, Regional Director, Southwest Region (SW), National 
Marine Fisheries Service, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213
    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. 974, 
issued on September 7, 1995 (60 FR 46577), 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. 974 authorizes the permit holder to conduct research on 
low frequency sound and its effect on the physiology and diving 
behavior of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), provide local and regional 
movement data, hematological variability of the stock, and harbor seal 
feeding habits. The permit holder requests authorization to: determine 
body fat; handle 20 harbor seal pups up to eight times annually to 
track changes in health, physiological condition, and diving behavior; 
handle 20 adults and 20 juveniles annually to determine seasonal shifts 
in health, physiological condition, and diving behavior; and harass 200 
additional harbor seals as a result of the above activities.
    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 472]]


    Dated: December 23, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-154 Filed 1-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F