[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50632-50633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19689]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072302A]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 1026-1671 and 1033-1683 and Permit No. 
358-1585-01

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for permits and application for permit 
amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following applicants have 
applied in due form for a permit or permit amendment to take marine 
mammals for purposes of scientific research:
    File No. 1026-1671-Belinda L. Rubinstein, New England Aquarium, 
Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110;
    File No. 1033-1683-Michael A. Castellini, Ph.D., Institute of 
Marine Science, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of 
Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775; and
    Permit No. 358-1585-01-Alaska Department of Fish and Game, (Dr. 
Robert Small, PI), Division of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 25526, 
Juneau, AK 99802-5526.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments on these actions must be received 
on or before September 4, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment (see SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for addresses).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits and amendment request 
are requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations 
Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).

[[Page 50633]]

Applications for Permit

    Belinda L. Rubinstein (File No. 1026-1671) requests a permit to 
take five species of seals found in waters off he northeast U.S. coast. 
These include the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), harp seal (Phoca 
groenlandica), gray seal(Halichoerus grypus), hooded seal (Cystophora 
cristata) and ringed seal (Phoca hispida). Seals will be captured, 
tagged, sampled (including tooth extraction, biopsy, milk collection 
and anal swabs), and released. In addition to taking wild animals, the 
applicant also requests authority to sample conspecifics held in 
rehabilitation facilities. The purposes of the research are to: study 
habitat utilization using satellite telemetry and flipper tagging, 
determine stock association, and monitor health.
    Michael A. Castellini, Ph.D., (File No. 1033-1683) requests a 
permit to take Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in the 
Antarctic. Seals will be captured, instrumented, sampled and released. 
The applicant proposes to study the nutrient metabolism in predatory 
carnivores by examining how Weddell seals process nutrients while 
foraging, examining the kinetics of lipid uptake and utilization during 
active foraging, use labeled traced experiments to quantify lipid 
turnover rates and separate the lipid pool into its various components. 
Other species such as leopard, crabeater, Ross, southern elephant, and 
Antarctic fur seals occur in the study area and may be incidentally 
harassed during capture operations.

Amendment Request

    Permit No. 358-1565-01 authorizes the Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game scientists to capture, sample, handle, tag, collect samples from 
subsistence harvested animals and export samples for analysis. The 
Permit also authorizes two accidental mortalities per year not to 
exceed 500 over five years.
    The Holder now requests authority to amend the Permit to allow 
implantation of subcutaneous radio-telemetry transmitters in harbor 
seals. In the initial pilot project, the Holder proposes to perform 
implant surgery on 10 of the seals already authorized to be taken. 
Pending a successful pilot season, individuals already authorized in 
the permit will receive subcutaneous implants of radio transmitters.
    Additionally, the Holder requests authority to increase the number 
of accidental mortalities allowed per year from 2 during capture 
operations to 6 annually [which includes mortalities associated with 
tag implant and capture operations], not to exceed 10 over the next 
three years.
    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.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these 
applications 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 these particular requests 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 these applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
    Documents are available for review in the following offices:
    All files are available in the 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;
    File No. 1026-1671: Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected 
Resources, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930-2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371;
    Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, Southeast 
Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 
33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.
    File No. 1033-1683: Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected 
Resources, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, 
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.
    File No. 358-1585-01: Assistant Regional Administrator for 
Protected Resources, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 
99802-1668; phone (907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.

    Dated: July 25, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-19689 Filed 8-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S