[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 148 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 49908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19430]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 062502C]


Marine Mammals; File No. 881-1443

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

ACTION:  Issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that the Alaska SeaLife Center, P.O. 
Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664 has been issued an amendment to scientific 
research Permit No. 881-1443.

ADDRESSES:  The amendment 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 13730, Silver Spring, MD 
20910 (301/713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ruth Johnson or Amy Sloan, 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 19, 2001, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (66 FR 48663) that an amendment of Permit No. 
881-1443, issued March 27, 1998 (63 FR 14905), had been requested by 
the above-named organization. The requested amendment has been granted 
under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the provisions of Sec. 216.39 of the 
Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 
CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the provisions of Sec. 222.25 of the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR 222.23).
    Issuance of this amendment, as required by the ESA was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the 
subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.
    The amendment authorizes modifications to existing research 
protocols as well as new research projects. Modifications to existing 
protocols include: (1) increasing frequency of blubber biopsies taken 
from Steller sea lions from 3 to 6 times per year for fatty acid and 
organochlorine testing; (2) increasing mass of blubber biopsies taken 
from harbor seals from 50 to 500 mg for organochlorine testing; (3) 
collecting saliva from Steller sea lions and harbor seals for 
deuterium, steroid, and hormone analyses; (4) analyzing vaginal and 
preputial swabs for cell cytology in Steller sea lions and harbor 
seals; and (5) administering stable isotopes to Steller sea lions for 
nutritional studies.
    New projects include: (1) hormone stimulation studies and 
collection of feces for assessment of stress or well-being in relation 
to diet in Steller sea lions; (2) bioenergetic studies of Steller sea 
lions involving determination of metabolic rates using flow 
respirometry and metabolic chambers, and dietary marker administration 
and dry holding for collection of urine and feces; (3) collection of 
skin and mucosal swabs from harbor seals and Steller sea lions for 
development of cell lines and microbiological analyses; (4) 
administration of deuterium labeled vitamin E and a vitamin A analog 
and increased frequency of blood sampling to determine metabolic 
requirements of these vitamins; and (5)photographic studies to 
determine pelage pattern consistency of harbor seals.

    Dated: July 25, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service
[FR Doc. 02-19430 Filed 7-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S