[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39493-39494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19062]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 062901D]


Marine Mammals; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications No. 42-1642, 555-1638 and 782-1645; and 
receipt of application to amend Permit No. 376-1520-01.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions for takes of 
marine mammal species for the purposes of scientific research:
    NMFS has received permit applications from: Mystic Aquarium, 55 
Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355 (Dr. Lisa Mazarro, Principal 
Investigator) (Application No. 42-1642); James Harvey, Moss Landing 
Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039 
(Application No. 555-1638); and NMFS, National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., BIN C15700, Seattle, WA 98115-
0070 (Dr. Robert DeLong, Principal Investigator) (Application No. 782-
1645); and NMFS has received an application for a permit amendment from 
Jim Hain, Associated Scientists at Woods Hole, Box 721, Woods Hole, MA 
02543 (Permit No. 376-1520-01).

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
August 30, 2001.

[[Page 39494]]


ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson, Tammy Adams, or Amy 
Sloan, (301) 713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits and permit amendment are 
requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (MMPA; 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.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting 
of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.)

Applications for Permits Received

    For Application No. 42-1642, the applicant requests permission to 
study metabolic clearance rates of vitamins A and E using isotope 
tracers and vitamin analogs in captive Steller sea lions, relation to 
various life history stages, establish the vitamin A and E status of 
free-ranging Steller sea lions, determine the metabolic requirements 
for these vitamins by relating intake to blood levels in captive 
specimens, and receive or import serum and milk samples from captive 
marine mammals held in facilities within the United States and abroad 
to study the disease hemochromatosis (an excessive accumulation of iron 
in tissues often associated with hepatic lesions) as well as others 
associated with general marine mammal health.
    For Application No. 555-1638, the applicant requests permission to 
conduct research on 22 cetacean species and 5 pinniped species in the 
North Pacific Ocean along the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, 
and Alaska (below the Aleutian Islands) in order to study the 
following: distribution and abundance related to environmental factors; 
prey and foraging behaviors; health and stock structure of individuals; 
effects of anthropogenic factors (i.e., vessel noise) on acoustic 
signals; and movements of individuals or pods during migrations or 
within their home range. This research will be accomplished using 
aerial and shipboard line-transect survey methods, monitoring of radio-
tagged individuals, recording behavior and vocalizations, collecting 
biopsy samples from cetaceans, and collecting blood and morphometric 
measurements from small cetaceans and pinnipeds.
    For Application No. 782-1645, the applicant requests permission to 
capture and attach radio-telemetry devices to harbor porpoises 
(Phocoena phocoena) off the coasts of Oregon and Washington to monitor 
the movements of tagged animals relative to current stock boundaries, 
and to collect blubber biopsies to determine organochlorine contaminant 
burdens.

Application to Amend a Permit Received

    For Permit No. 376-1520-01, the Permit authorizes the Holder to 
approach a variety of cetacean species to conduct photo-identification 
and behavioral observations. The approach distances in the permit are 
currently limited to : within 100 ft (31 m) by vessel, 200 ft (61 m) 
directly above and 350 ft (107 m) slant range by aircraft for all 
species except North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), and 
within 700 ft (213 m) directly above and at slant range in fixed- and 
rotary-winged aircraft, and 500 ft (152 m) directly above and 350 ft 
(107 m) slant range using an aerostat (blimp) for right whales. The 
holder now requests permission to approach North Atlantic right whales 
within 100 ft (31 m) in a variety of small vessels, including kayaks, 
for the purpose of photo-identification.
    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 activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement 
to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact 
statement.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of these 
applications 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 the 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 these applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    For all permit applications and the application to amend a permit: 
Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
phone (301) 713-2289; fax (301) 713-0376;
    For Applications No. 42-1642, 555-1638, and 782-1645: Northwest 
Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 
98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
    For Applications No. 42-1642 and 555-1638: Alaska Region, NMFS, 
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907) 586-7221; fax (907) 
586-7249;
    For Applications No. 42-1642 and 555-1638: Southwest Region, NMFS, 
501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone 
(562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018;
    For Application No. 555-1638: Protected Species Coordinator, 
Pacific Area Office, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm, 1110, Honolulu, HI 
96814-4700; phone (808) 973-2935; fax (808) 973-2941;
    For Application No. 42-1642 and Permit No. 376-1520-01: Northeast 
Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone 
(978) 281-9200; fax (978) 281-9371;
    For Application No. 42-1642 and Permit No. 376-1520-01: Southeast 
Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 
33702-2432; phone (727) 570-5301; fax (727) 570-5320.

    Dated: July 24, 2001.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-19062 Filed 7-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S