[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49786-49787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20684]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 080100A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 87-1593

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Daniel P. Costa, Department of 
Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, has applied in 
due form for a permit to take California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
September 14, 2000.

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, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802 (562/980-4001).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the Regulations Governing the Taking 
and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests authorization to take approximately 140 
California sea lions annually over a five year period to examine the 
foraging ecology and energetics of all age and sex classes on all 
California rookeries. Types of takes proposed include: capture, 
anesthetize, tag, bleach mark, blood sample, administer doubly-labeled 
water, muscle biopsy, milk sample, instrument with TDRs and collect 
morphometric and metabolic measurements. To compare the ecology and 
energetics of California sea lions inhabiting California waters with 
California sea lions inhabiting the southern extreme of their range the 
applicant requests authorization to import blood and tissue samples of 
California sea lions from Mexico and Ecuador.
    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.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits and Documentation 
Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals 
requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a 
hearing on this particular 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 by other 
electronic media.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this

[[Page 49787]]

application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of 
Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: August 9, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-20684 Filed 8-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F