[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 160 (Monday, August 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 53780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21022]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 070202A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 455-1445

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 Waikiki Aquarium (Dr. Cindy 
Hunter, PI) has been issued an amendment to scientific research and 
enhancement Permit No. 455-1445-02.

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 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018;
    Protected Species Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, NMFS, 1601 
Kapiolani Blvd., Rm, 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)973-
2935; fax (808)973-2941;

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 23, 2001, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (66 FR 44333) that an amendment of Permit No. 455-
1445, issued on May 26, 1998 (63 FR 30201), 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 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 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    Permit No. 455-1445-02, which authorized the Waikiki Aquarium to 
hold Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) for the purpose of 
enhancing the survival and recovery of the species, has been amended to 
extend the scientific research portion of the permit to the expiration 
date of June 30, 2003. The research involves studies on the efficiency 
with which the monk seals assimilate and metabolize amino acids and 
fatty acids from common prey types, and the elucidation and monitoring 
of how reproductive and metabolic activities are related in male monk 
seals. Research will involve the following types of takes: feeding a 
controlled diet; monthly blood sampling; weekly saliva sampling; weekly 
morphometric measurements; and quarterly deuterium oxide administration 
with pre- and post-administration blood sampling.
    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.

    Dated: August 13, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-21022 Filed 8-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S