[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 140 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47774-47775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18441]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 071602A]
Marine Mammals; File No. 1034-1685 and Permit No. 751-1614
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of application for a permit and application to amend a
permit.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding
permits for takes of marine mammals for purposes of scientific
research: NMFS has received a permit application from Dr. Markus
Horning, Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, Galveston,
TX 77551, to take California sea lions (Zalophus californianus); and an
application to amend Permit No. 751-1614 issued to the Ocean Alliance/
Whale Conservation Institute, 191
[[Page 47775]]
Weston Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 (Dr. Roger S. Payne, Principal
Investigator).
DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before
August 21, 2002.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for
review upon written request or by appointment in the following
office(s):
For both applications, 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;
For File No. 1034-1685, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax
(562)980-4018;
For Permit No. 751-1614, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-
9371; and
For Permit No. 751-1614, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive
Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301;
fax (727)570-5320.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams, Ruth Johnson, or Amy
Sloan, (301)713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit, File No. 1034-1685, 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 subject amendment to Permit No. 751-1614 is requested under the
authority of the MMPA, the Regulations Governing the Taking and
Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), the ESA, and the
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
The applicant for File No. 1034-1685 proposes to implant dual
satellite-linked life history transmitters in up to 15 rehabilitated
California sea lions at the Marine Mammal Center per year, for two
years, to determine long-term post-release survival rates of
rehabilitated sea lions. External tags will also be attached for short-
term monitoring. To assess stress levels from surgical procedures, and
to relate post-rehabilitation health status to survival, blood samples
will be collected for standard clinical hematology and chemistry
panels. Blubber biopsies, bioelectric impedance analysis, deuterium
dilution determinations, and blubber ultrasound will also be performed.
Permit No. 751-1614, issued on March 7, 2002 (67 FR 11677)
authorizes takes of various cetacean species by aerial survey, photo-
identification, and biopsy sampling, within waters under the
jurisdiction of the United States or on the high seas of the Pacific,
Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea. It also
authorizes the import/export of an unlimited number of samples
(sloughed skin from live animals, and skin, blubber, blood, bone,
baleen and other tissues collected from dead stranded animals)
collected within the territorial waters of a number of foreign
countries. The holder of Permit No. 751-1614 has requested
authorization to import and export samples collected from the cetacean
species listed in the permit within the territorial waters of any
foreign country sanctioned by the United States and in accordance with
the permit conditions.
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, 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 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: July 16, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-18441 Filed 7-19-02; 8:45 am]
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