[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62027-62028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23732]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100404A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 1072-1771

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 Dr. Colleen Reichmuth Kastak, Long 
Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of 
California at Santa Cruz, 100 Schaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, has 
applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on captive 
pinnipeds.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before November 22, 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
    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 
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. 1072-1771.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Tammy Adams, (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 proposed research involves a continuation of studies designed 
to evaluate hearing and visual sensitivity, memory, and learning 
capabilities of up to seven captive pinnipeds (three California sea 
lions, Zalophus californianus; two Pacific harbor seals, Phoca 
vitulina; and two Northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris). 
Animals would be trained using positive reinforcement and would 
voluntarily participate in up to three

[[Page 62028]]

experimental sessions per day, up to seven days per week annually at 
Long Marine Laboratory. This research would improve knowledge of 
pinniped sensory adaptations, examine mechanisms for acquiring and 
processing sensory information, and develop procedures for rapidly and 
humanely studying marine mammal hearing and the effects of 
anthropogenic noise. These efforts would support research priorities 
for marine mammals that have been identified by the National Research 
Council. The permit has been requested for a 5-year period. 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: October 19, 2004.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-23732 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S