[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 164 (Thursday, August 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44333-44334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21330]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081001G]


Marine Mammals; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for a scientific research permit (File 
No. 1003-1646); receipt of application to amend Permit No. 455-1445-01.

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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 and 
enhancement: NMFS has received a permit application from: Jennifer 
Burns, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 3211 Providence Drive, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99508-8104 (File No. 1003-1646); NMFS has received an 
application for a permit amendment from The Waikiki Aquarium, 2777 
Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815 (Bruce Carlson, Principle 
Investigator; Permit No. 455-1445-01).

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments on the permit application or 
amendment request must be received on or before September 24, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the permit application or amendment 
request should be sent to the appropriate office as indicated below. 
Comments may also be sent via fax to the number indicated for the 
application or amendment request. Comments will not be accepted if 
submitted via e-mail or the internet. The application and related 
documents are available for review upon written request or by 
appointment in the following office(s):
    For permit application (File No. 1003-1646): Alaska Region, NMFS, 
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907) 586-7221; fax (907) 
586-7249;
    For amendment request (Permit No. 455-1445-01): Southwest Region, 
NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; 
phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018; and
    Pacific Islands Area Office, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Room 1110,

[[Page 44334]]

Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 973-2935; fax (808) 973-2941.
    All documents may also be reviewed by appointment in the 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.
    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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit and 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.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and 
exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-227).

New Application Received

    File No. 1003-1646: Dr. Burns proposes to import marine mammal 
parts (blood, blubber and muscle biopsies, and flipper tissue) from 
Canadian populations of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), hooded seals 
(Cystophora cristata), harp seals (Phoca groenlandica), and grey seals 
(Halichoerus grypus). These tissues will be used to study physiological 
adaptations of foraging in marine mammals and more specifically, the 
development of body oxygen stores in phocid pups.

Amendment Request Received

    Permit No. 455-1445-01 currently authorizes the Waikiki Aquarium to 
hold Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) for the purpose of 
enhancing the survival and recovery of the species. The scientific 
research portion of the permit, which expired June 30, 2001, involved 
studies on the efficiency with which the monk seals assimilate and 
metabolize amino acids and fatty acids from common prey types, and the 
elucidation and monitoring of how reproductive and metabolic activities 
are related in male monk seals. The applicant proposes to extend this 
portion of the permit to allow these research projects to continue 
through the duration of the enhancement permit, until June 30, 2003. 
The research projects will remain the same with the exception of the 
feeding study, where natural prey fish will be replaced with capelin, 
herring, smelt, squid, and/or lobster to ensure consistent quality in 
the food fed to the seals and to minimize the potential for introducing 
ciguatera. In addition, changes to training protocols for application 
to collection of samples for the scientific research studies and 
husbandry purposes are requested, including increasing training for 
blood sampling from one time per month to two times per week, training 
for voluntary swallowing of a feeding tube, and training to receive 
intramuscular injections.
    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.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application and amendment 
request to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific 
Advisors.

    Dated: August 16, 2001.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-21330 Filed 8-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S