[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 54 (Monday, March 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13780-13781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6926]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 031699B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 782-1355

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. Douglas P. DeMaster, Director, 
National Marine Mammal Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-
0070, has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 782-
1355.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
April 21, 1999.


[[Page 13781]]


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 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 
Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221).
    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 e-mail or other electronic 
media.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 782-
1355, issued on July 15, 1997 (62 FR 39826) is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the Regulations Governing the Taking and 
Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 782-1355 authorizes the permit holder to take Pacific 
Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in the following manner: harass during 
census flights; capture, restrain, measure (weight length, girth), 
sample (flipper punch, vibrissa, blood, blubber/muscle biopsy, ultra 
sound, enema), radio tag, flipper tag, and release 500 animals; and 
incidentally harass up to 2500 during the conduct of these activities, 
and during collection of scat samples from haulouts. The permit holder 
requests authorization to: conduct the above activities on ringed seals 
(Phoca hispida); and harass ringed seals, bearded seals (Erignathus 
barbatus), ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata), and spotted seals (Phoca 
largha) during aerial stock assessments.
    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.
    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.

    Dated: March 16, 1999.
Jeannie Drevenak,
Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-6926 Filed 3-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F