[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51395-51396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25300]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 092101D]


Marine Mammals; File No. 87-1593-00

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Daniel P. Costa, Professor of 
Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for 
Ocean Health, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, has requested an amendment to 
scientific research Permit No. 87-1593.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
November 8, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request and related documents are 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
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018;
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.
    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: Ruth Johnson or Amy Sloan (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 87-1593, 
issued on February 21, 2001 (66 FR 12763), is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the Regulations Governing the Taking and 
Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No.87-1593 authorizes the permit holder to conduct research 
on marine mammals in two different projects: Project I authorizes 
capture, tag, sample and release of California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus); Project II authorizes capture, tag, sample and release 
of Crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus) and secondarily takes for 
leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx), Weddell seals (Leptonychotes 
weddellii), and Ross seals (Ommatophoca rossii).
    The permit holder requests authorization to: a) Take 40 adult male 
California sea lions per year by capture, tag, bleach mark, restraint, 
anesthetization, blood sample (80ml), weigh, morphometric measurements, 
muscle biopsy and instrument with TDRs and/or ARGOS linked PTTs and 
heart-rate/stomach-temperature (GTR) recorders, insertion of a stomach 
temperature pill, and release; b) incidentally harass up to 1000 sea 
lions per adult capture event (approx. 40K); c) incidentally harass up 
to 2600 animals during fecal collection; d)incidentally harass up to 
1000 Northern elephant seals, and up to 100 Northern fur seals during 
all research on California sea lions. Takes are requested annually.
    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

[[Page 51396]]

Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: October 2, 2001.
Ann D. Terbush,
 Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-25300 Filed 10-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S