[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 12643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6050]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 031204C]


Marine Mammals; File No. 350-1739

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Brendan Kelly, Ph.D., University 
of Alaska Southeast, 11120 Glacier Highway, Juneau, Alaska 99801, has 
applied in due form for a permit to take ringed seals (Phoca hispida) 
for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 16, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The application 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; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application 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 this particular 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.
    Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing email comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 350-1739.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the Regulations Governing the 
Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant proposes to study site fidelity, behavior, and the 
ecological significance of home ranges of ringed seals in the Prudhoe 
Bay, Alaska region of the Beaufort Sea. This will be accomplished 
through capturing, genetics sampling, and tagging with flipper and VHF 
tags up to 50 ringed seals per year. Of these, up to 15 seals would 
have satellite tags attached, 10 would have sonic transmitters 
attached, and 10 would have video cameras attached. The applicant 
requests a five-year permit.
    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: March 12, 2004.
Amy C. Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-6050 Filed 3-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S