[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30651-30652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11303]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042902C]


Marine Mammals; File No. 984-1587

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. Terrie Williams, Long Marine 
Lab, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California at Santa 
Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, has requested an 
amendment to scientific research Permit No. 984-1587-00.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before June 
6, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request and related documents are available 
for review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits, Conservation and Education 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.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
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. 984-
1587-00, issued on October 31, 2000 (65 FR 66718), 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. 984-1587-00 authorizes the permit holder to examine the 
physiological responses of two adult male dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) 
and three adult female California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) 
during swimming and diving. Testing involves measuring locomotor, 
thermal, and maintenance costs using voluntary behaviors through 
training at Long Marine Laboratory.
    The permit holder requests authorization to: (1) extend the holding 
and research on the California sea lions at Long Marine Laboratory from 
the expiration date of September 30, 2002, to June 30, 2004; (2) obtain 
an adult male California sea lion on temporary breeding loan from 
Oceans of Fun

[[Page 30652]]

(Milwaukee, WI) to mate with the three female sea lions; and (3) 
conduct the same research on the three female sea lions while pregnant. 
All procedures are performed voluntarily by the sea lions. Types of 
take include mating; blood, milk, saliva, fecal, and urine sampling; 
open flow respirometry, swimming and walking, and voluntary breath 
holding. The purpose of this research is to test the hypothesis that 
physiological adaptations for the marine environment result in elevated 
energetic costs in otariids compared to terrestrial mammals, which will 
be tested by measuring locomotor, thermal, maintenance, and 
reproductive costs in sea lions.
    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.

    Dated: May 2, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-11303 Filed 5-6-02; 8:45 am]
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