[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13723-13724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6226]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 030600B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 455-1445-00

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 Waikiki Aquarium, 2777 Kalakaua 
Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815, has requested an amendment to scientific 
research and enhancement Permit No. 455-1445.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
April 13, 2000.

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);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4001); and
    Pacific Area Office, Southwest Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700 (808/973-2935).
    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, 301/713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 455-
1445, issued on May 26, 1998 (63 FR 30201) 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), the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and 
threatened species.
    Permit No. 455-1445 authorizes the permit holder to continually 
hold three

[[Page 13724]]

Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) for the purposes of 
enhancing the survival and recovery of the species, and for scientific 
research. The research seeks to assess the efficiency with which monk 
seals assimilate and metabolize amino acids and fatty acids from common 
prey types, and elucidate and monitor how reproductive and metabolic 
activity of male seals are related.
    The permit holder requests authorization to train seals to accept a 
rectal temperature probe and to take daily temperature measurements on 
the three monk seals held at Waikiki Aquarium.
    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 7, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-6226 Filed 3-13-00; 8:45 am]
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