[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 221 (Tuesday, November 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 63911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30705]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 101498A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 881-1443

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Alaska SeaLife Center, Box 
1329, Seward, AK 99664 (907/224-2600) has been issued an amendment to 
scientific research Permit No. 881-1443.

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: Sara Shapiro or Ruth Johnson, 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 6, 1998, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (63 FR 42010) that an amendment of Permit No. 881-
1443, issued March 23, 1998 (63 FR 14905), 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.) and the provisions of Sec. 216.39 of 
the Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals 
(50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 881-1443 authorizes the Alaska SeaLife Center to (1) 
import from Canada, three juvenile Steller sea lions (Eumetopias 
jubatus) and two juvenile harbor seals (Phoca vitulina); (2) obtain six 
additional harbor seals from U.S. facilities; and (3) conduct research 
activities on these animals over a five-year period. These studies may 
assess nutritional physiology, metabolic development, and clinical 
health under captive conditions.
    This amendment now authorizes the Holder to: (1) collect whiskers 
or toenails from each harbor seal for background concentrations of 
stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen; (2) feed the harbor seals fish, 
or inject them with solution containing stable isotopes of carbon and 
nitrogen; and (3) collect serial biopsies of blubber and muscle to 
assess lipid profiles.

    Dated: November 5, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-30705 Filed 11-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F