[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 203 (Monday, October 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64603-64604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26695]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100802C]


Endangered Species; File No. 1346

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Thomas B. McCormick, Channel 
Islands Marine Resource Institute (CIMRI), P.O. Box 1627, Port Hueneme, 
California 93044, has requested a modification to scientific research 
and enhancement Permit No. 1346.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
November 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The modification request and related documents are available 
for review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
offices:
    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: Jennifer Skidmore or Trevor Spradlin, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 1346, 
issued on May 17, 2002 (67 FR 36158), is requested under the authority 
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and 
exporting of endangered

[[Page 64604]]

and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    Permit No. 1346 authorizes the permit holder to captively maintain 
bred white abalone for scientific research and enhancement at the CIMRI 
hatchery. Research activities include feeding studies, propagation 
studies and studies identified as goals for the long-term recovery of 
the white abalone. The permit holder requests authorization to collect 
20 white abalone per year off of the southern California coast. These 
animals will then be propagated, treated for wounds, tagged and 
inoculated against withering syndrome. The progeny of these animals 
will have the same treatments and be subjects of the studies mentioned 
above as well as behavioral studies. In accordance with recommendations 
from the recovery team, the permit holder will also place these animals 
back into their natural habitat. The permit holder is expecting 
mortalities of 9.3 million per year for early juveniles, 15,000 per 
year for juveniles and adults and 134,000 in 2002 to reduce stock due 
to space limitations.
    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.

    Dated: October 15, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-26695 Filed 10-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S