[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25294-25295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11881]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 050499A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 758-1459-01

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. Kimberlee Beckmen, Institute 
of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-
7000, has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 758-
1459.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before June 
10, 1999.

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
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (309/
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: Ruth Johnson or Sara Shapiro 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 758-1459 
issued on August 21, 1998 (63 FR 46417) is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations Governing the Taking and 
Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216) and the Fur Seal Act of 
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 758-1459 authorizes the permit holder to take up to six 
moribund, mortally injured northern fur seals by lethal injection and 
salvage the liver, blood and blubber.
    The permit holder requests authorization to take up to 82 northern 
fur seal pups up to 5 times to conduct research activities. Up to 9,152 
will be inadvertently harassed annually during capture operations. The 
objective is to determine if the profound decline in lymphocyte 
proliferation responsiveness in all 4-6 week old pups compared to their 
neonatal response (observed in 1996) was a normal phenomenon, and 
determine at what age the maternal antibody protection finally wanes 
and the pup's own immune system can be fully stimulated.
    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,

[[Page 25295]]

NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine Mammal 
Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: May 4, 1999.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-11881 Filed 5-10-99; 8:45 am]
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