[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 68247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32900]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 112398H]


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 Permit No. 881-1443, issued to the 
Alaska SeaLife Center, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, was amended.

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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, 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: The subject amendment has been issued 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 part 222).
    Permit No. 881-1443, Project No. I authorizes the Alaska SeaLife 
Center to assess nutritional physiology, metabolic development, and 
clinical health under captive conditions of six harbor seals (Phoca 
vitulina) and three Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Project II 
authorizes you to conduct stable isotope and lipid metabolism studies 
on the harbor seals.
    Condition A.2.i. currently authorizes controlled dietary studies. 
As a component of this condition, this amendment (Project No. III) now 
authorizes the Holder to: (1) conduct a two-week fasting study on the 
Steller sea lions; (2) increase the frequency of blood-sampling during 
this period from one to three per week (previously authorized in 
Condition A.2.d.); and (3) inject D2O two times during this 
two-week period (previously authorized in A.2.g.).
    Issuance of this permit, 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: November 25, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-32900 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F