[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69725-69726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29361]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110102I]


Marine Mammals; File No. 821-1588

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Texas A&M University, Department 
of Marine Biology, PO Box 1675, Galveston, Texas 77551 (Principal 
Investigator: Dr. Randall W. Davis) has requested an amendment to 
scientific research Permit No. 821-1588-01.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
December 19, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request 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;
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320; 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

[[Page 69726]]

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: Amy Sloan or Carrie Hubard (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 821-
1588-01 is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the 
Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 
CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 821-1588-01 authorizes the permit holder to conduct 
research under three projects: (1) capture, tag, sample, release 
Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) on McMurdo Sound, Antarctica; 
(2) approach, tag, biopsy, photograph sperm whales (Physeter 
macrocephalus) in the Gulf of Mexico, and conduct research activities 
on Odontocetes that may result in Level B harassment; and (3) import/
export marine mammal specimens obtained from dead animals. The permit 
holder requests authorization to take up to two times each, 30 adult 
female northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) and 10 
subadult seals of either sex during each of three years by capture, 
restraint, sedation, attachment of instruments, placement of catheters 
into blood vessels, placement of subcutaneous temperature and 
intravenous oxygen sensors, and taking muscle biopsies. Adult females 
may be pregnant, although no late-term pregnant seals will be sampled. 
Level B harassment may occur on an additional 40 seals per year during 
observations to check flipper tags for identification. Up to two 
accidental mortalities per year are requested for this amendment. 
Research will occur at Ano Nuevo Point, California. The purpose of this 
research is to investigate the behavioral and energetic adaptations 
that enable elephant seals to forage at depth in the northern Pacific 
Ocean.
    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.
    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: November 14, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-29361 Filed 11-18-02; 8:45 am]
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