[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 43 (Friday, March 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 10649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5500]



[[Page 10649]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 022399A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 782-1447-02

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, 
Seattle, WA 98115-0070 has been issued an amendment to scientific 
research Permit No. 782-1447.

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 January 14, 1999, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (64 FR 2472) that an amendment of Permit No. 782-
1447, issued May 20, 1998 (63 FR 30201), 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.), the provisions of Sec. 222.25 of 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. 782-1447 authorizes the National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory to: count, capture, handle, flipper tag, blood sample, and 
biopsy sample Steller sea lion pups (Eumetopias jubatus); dart biopsy 
adult and juvenile Steller sea lions; and disturb Stellers of all ages 
through aerial surveys over a two-year period. Research activities are 
scheduled to take place in Alaska. In addition, the Holder is 
authorized to disturb a small number of northern fur seals (Callorhinus 
ursinus) on Bogoslof Island during aerial surveys.
    This amendment now authorizes the Holder to: (1) conduct aerial 
surveys in February and March; (2) collect 25 cc blood from young-of-
the-year and capture and handle all pups from March through July; and 
(3) administer Valium (5 mg/ml) to restrained sea lions as needed to 
minimize the potential for injury to animals and handlers.
    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: February 26, 1999.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-5500 Filed 3-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F