[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 140 (Thursday, July 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45039-45040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18420]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D.062700B]


Marine Mammals; Permit No. 455-1445

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

ACTION: Denial of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a request for a scientific 
research permit amendment [No. 455-1445] submitted by Waikiki Aquarium 
has been denied.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits and Documentation Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910 (301/713-2289);
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4001); and
    Pacific Islands Area Office, Southwest Region, NMFS,1601 KAPIOLANI 
BLVD, RM 1110, HONOLULU, HI 96814-4700 (808)973-2935 x210).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Simona Roberts, 301/
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 14, 2000, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (65 FR 13723) that an application to amend Permit 
455-1445 had been filed by the above named organization. The requested 
permit has been denied subject to the provisions of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972 (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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and 
exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    Scientific research and enhancement permit No. 455-1445 was issued 
on May 26, 1998. The Permit authorizes Waikiki to maintain and care for 
three male Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus

[[Page 45040]]

schauinslandi) for enhancement purposes, and to make them available for 
scientific research. Research project I involves assessing the 
efficiency with which seals assimilate and metabolize amino acids and 
fatty acids from common prey types, and elucidating and monitoring how 
reproductive and metabolic activity of male Hawaiian monk seals are 
related. Dr. Shannon Atkinson is the principal researcher/co-
investigator for this project is.
    The permit holder requested authorization to amend the Permit to 
allow training of seals to accept a rectal temperature probe to take 
daily temperature measurements. The purpose of the research is to 
establish baseline temperatures as a diagnostic tool, and use the 
values to calculate heat transfer budgets for seals as part of a 
master's thesis conducted under the advisement of Dr. Shannon Atkinson. 
The application did not contain sufficient information for NMFS to 
determine that the research was bona fide.

    Dated: July 17, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-18420 Filed 7-19-00; 8:45 am]
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