[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 57041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28542]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110501C]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 482-1653 and 1018-1655.

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding 
permits for takes of marine mammal species for the purposes of 
scientific research: NMFS has received scientific research permit 
applications from: James Gilbert, Ph.D., University of Maine, 
Department of Wildlife Ecology, 210 Nutting Hall, Orono, ME 04469 (File 
No. 482-1653); and Luciana Moller, Ph.D., Department of Ecology and 
Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520 (File No. 
1018-1655).

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments on new applications must be 
received on or before December 14, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on any of the applications should be sent 
to the appropriate office as indicated below. Comments may also be sent 
via fax to the number indicated for the applications. Comments will not 
be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the internet. The applications 
and related documents are available for review upon written request or 
by appointment in the following office:
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978) 281-9200; fax (978) 281-9371.
    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: For Application File No. 482-1653: Amy 
Sloan or Ruth Johnson, (301) 713-2289.
    For Application File No. 1018-1655: Amy Sloan or Lynne Barre, (301) 
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are 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).
    Application File No. 482-1653: Dr. Gilbert proposes to document the 
extent of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) predations on the Atlantic 
salmon aquaculture industry's pen sites and to understand the pattern 
of attacks and the behavior of seals near pen sites. From this 
information, non-lethal approaches to deterring seals will be 
determined. The specific research objectives are (1) to document the 
frequency, pattern, and extent of seal depredations at Atlantic salmon 
aquaculture farms; (2) to determine if this frequency, pattern, and 
extent is related to the number of seals at nearby haulout sites 
throughout the year; and (3) to determine if repeated depredations at a 
site are the result of the same seal or different seals. To accomplish 
this research, seals will be captured, marked, sexed, measured, blood 
sampled, radio-tagged, and monitored via aerial surveys. Blood samples 
from adult females will be used for pregnancy testing. Patterns of 
visitation to the pen sites, including age and sex class, will be 
determined.
    Application File No. 1018-1655: Dr. Moller proposes to import 
biopsy samples taken from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in 
Australia. The purpose(s) of this project are (1) to examine the 
influence of kinship on dolphin social relationships; (2) to assess 
sex-bias in dispersal patterns; and (3) to investigate population 
genetic structure of bottlenose dolphins in New South Wales. Biopsy 
samples already collected and analyzed in Australia for both mtDNA 
control region and microsatellites will be imported to the U.S. for 
screening at additional microsatellite loci. Additional biopsy samples 
will be taken in Australia and imported to the U.S. for conducting both 
mtDNA and microsatellite analyses.
    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 these applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: November 7, 2001.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-28542 Filed 11-13-01; 8:45 am]
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