[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48663-48664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23680]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082701F]


Marine Mammals; File No. 881-1443-04

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that The Alaska SeaLife Center, P.O. 
Box 1329, Seward, Alaska 99664 (Dr. Shannon Atkinson, Principal 
Investigator), has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit 
No. 881-1443-04.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
October 22, 2001.

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; 
phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.
    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 13705, 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: Amy Sloan or Ruth Johnson, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 881-
1443, issued on March 27, 1998 (59 FR 14905), 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.), the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and 
threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    Permit No. 881-1443-04 authorizes the permit holder to maintain 
Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and harbor seals (Phoca 
vitulina) for purposes of scientific research, which includes studies 
on nutritional and reproductive physiology, metabolic development, and 
clinical health. Incidental to research activities, animals are on 
public display as part of an education program.
    The permit holder requests authorization to modify existing 
research protocols as well as add new research projects. Modifications 
to existing protocols include: (1) increasing frequency of blubber 
biopsies taken from Steller sea lions from 3 to 6 times per year for 
fatty acid and organochlorine testing; (2) increasing mass of blubber 
biopsies taken from harbor seals from 50 to 500 mg for organochlorine 
testing; (3) collecting saliva from Steller sea lions and harbor seals 
for deuterium, steroid, and hormone analyses; (4) analyzing vaginal and 
preputial swabs for cell cytology in Steller sea lions and harbor 
seals; and (5) administering stable isotopes to Steller sea lions for 
nutritional studies.
    New projects proposed include: (1) hormone stimulation studies and 
collection of feces for assessment of stress or well-being in relation 
to diet in Steller sea lions; (2) bioenergetic studies of Steller sea 
lions involving determination of metabolic rates using flow 
respirometry and metabolic chambers, and dietary marker administration 
and dry holding for collection of urine and feces; (3)

[[Page 48664]]

collection of skin and mucosal swabs from harbor seals and Steller sea 
lions for development of cell lines and microbiological analyses; (4) 
administration of deuterium labeled vitamin E and a vitamin A analog 
and increased frequency of blood sampling to determine metabolic 
requirements of these vitamins; and (5) photographic studies to 
determine pelage pattern consistency of harbor seals.
    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.

    September 18, 2001.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-23680 Filed 9-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S