[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 173 (Monday, September 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52905-52906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22782]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081303B]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 704-1698 and 1044-1706

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for permits.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following applicants have 
applied in due form for a permit to take marine mammals parts from 
species of marine mammals under NMFS jurisdiction for purposes of 
scientific research: The University of Alaska Museum, 907 Yukon Drive, 
P.O. Box 756960, Fairbanks, AK 99775 (Dr. Gordon Jarrell, Principal 
Investigator (PI)); and The Alaska Sea Otter and Steller Sea Lion 
Commission (TASSC), 6239 B Street, Suite 204, Anchorage, AK 99518 (Dr. 
Dolly Garza, PI).

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments on the new applications must be 
received on or before October 8, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    All documents: 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
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, 301/
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits 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), the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur 
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
Applications for permits:
    File No. 704-1698: The University of Alaska Museum proposes to 
acquire, import and export specimen samples (whole carcasses; hard and 
soft parts) from all marine mammal species (pinnipeds and cetaceans) 
under NMFS jurisdiction. An unlimited number of samples would be taken 
from the following: 1) stranded marine mammal carcasses; 2) marine 
mammals taken by Alaskan Native subsistence hunters; and 3) specimens 
from permitted scientists in academic, federal, and state institutions 
involved in marine mammal research. Importation and exportation are 
requested in order to provide specimens to the international scientific 
community and bring legally acquired specimens from other museums and 
scientific donations. The objective of this application is to obtain 
authorization to archive specimens for future bona fide research at the 
University of Alaska and other institutions in the U.S. and world-wide. 
The applicant has requested a five-year permit.
    File No. 1044-1706: TASSC proposes to receive parts and tissues 
from stranded marine mammals collected by coastal Alaska Native 
subsistence users and those from legally subsistence hunted Steller sea 
lions and other

[[Page 52906]]

species. Authority to import and export samples is requested. Further, 
TASSC proposes to standardize Steller sea lion biological sampling 
techniques among Alaska Native subsistence users through a series of 
workshops with harvest communities. The objectives of this research are 
to promote Alaska Native participation in Steller sea lion conservation 
and management; assess the health and condition of Steller sea lions 
through biological data and tissue collection; educate and inform the 
public on the traditional and contemporary relationship between the 
Steller sea lion and Alaska Natives; and work with regulatory agencies 
toward the common goal of enhancing and protecting healthy Steller sea 
lion populations. The applicant has requested a five-year permit.
    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.

    Dated: August 29, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-22782 Filed 9-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S