[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 145 (Wednesday, July 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 40513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20167]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 071698C]


Marine Mammals; File No. P66j

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Mr. Wayne C. Regelin, Director, 
Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 
P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526, has been issued an amendment to 
scientific research Permit No. 965 (P66j).

ADDRESSES: The amendment 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 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK, 99802-1668 (907/586-7221).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Sara Shapiro, 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 3, 1998, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (63 FR 30201) that an amendment of Permit No. 965, 
issued June 19, 1995 (60 FR 34233), had been requested by the above-
named organization. The requested amendment has been granted under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the provisions of Sec. 216.39 of the Regulations 
Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), and the provisions of Sec. 222.25 of the regulations governing 
the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered fish and wildlife 
(50 CFR 222.23).
    Permit No. 965 (P66j) authorizes the Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game (ADF&G) to: take a maximum of 125 Steller sea lions (Eumetopias 
jubatus) by trapping (including leash capture), darting, sampling, and 
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 salvage 
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 amendment authorizes the Holder to take 25 additional (50 
total) juvenile Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) annually using 
the underwater leash capture method to adequately describe the basic 
life history and ecology of this age class.
    Issuance of this amendment, as required by the ESA was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the 
subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: July 23, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-20167 Filed 7-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F