[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 223 (Monday, November 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57939-57940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28879]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110801A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 481-1623-00

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that LGL Limited, Environmental 
Research Associates, 22 Fisher Street, POB 280, King City, Ontario, 
Canada L7B 1A6 (Principal Investigator: Dr. John W. Lawson) has applied 
in due form for a permit to take ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and 
incidentally take bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) and spotted seals 
(Phoca largha) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
December 19, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The application 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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is 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).
    The applicant has requested a permit to take ringed seals and 
incidentally take bearded and spotted seals annually. Researchers will 
use trained dogs within the fast ice distant from and near to 
industrial activities during winter to locate seals. LGL proposes to:
    (a) take 150 seals by harassment during on-ice searchers for 
breathing holes and resting lairs, and during setup and recovery of the 
VHF receiver stations, 20 ringed seals will be captured and tagged with 
VHF transmitters and implant PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags;
    (b) take up to 5 accidental mortalities, over a 5-year period;
    (c) take an unlimited number of seals during four aerial survey 
transects, each survey requiring two days. Two days of surveys 
constitutes one of four complete survey coverages of the study area. 
These surveys had been conducted under Letter of Confirmation No. 481-
1626 issued under authority of the General Authorization for Scientific 
Research. That authorization will be incorporated into the scientific 
research permit, if issued;
    (d) conduct acoustic characterization of on-ice anthropogenic 
sounds by employing calibrated hydrophones, microphones and geophones 
in holes drilled through the ice near an intended path of a vibroseis 
seismic survey convoy or some other noisy anthropogenic activities and 
make acoustic recordings as the operation moves past. To characterize 
received levels for ringed seals, seal lairs will be instrumented with 
these acoustic recording instruments to measure the characteristics of 
man-made sounds in a natural seal structure and to obtain concurrent 
acoustic and behavioral data from the same lair by deploying telemetry 
devices within the lair (i.e., recording thermistors);
    (e) conduct genetic and contaminant studies of ringed seals using 
teeth and tissue samples acquired from Native hunters during 
subsistence harvests. Teeth and tissue samples for contaminant studies 
will also be

[[Page 57940]]

acquired from Native hunters for bearded and spotted 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.
    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.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: November 13, 2001.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-28879 Filed 11-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S