[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 75047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27431]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 120604A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 87-1593

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Daniel Costa, Ph.D., University of 
California, Santa Cruz, Long Marine Lab, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, 
CA 95060, has been issued an amendment to Permit No. 87-1593 conduct 
scientific research on southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina).

ADDRESSES: The permit 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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 15, 2004, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (69 FR 42424) that a request for a permit 
amendment to take the species identified above had been submitted by 
the above-named individual. The requested amendment has been issued 
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).
    The permit holder is authorized to capture, sedate, tag (flipper 
and instrument), sample, and release up to 30 adult southern elephant 
seals; tag and weigh up to 50 immature elephant seals; conduct 
population censussing; and incidentally disturb up to 100 elephant 
seals during research. The purpose of this project is to examine the 
foraging behavior and habitat utilization of the southern elephant seal 
in the Western Antarctic Peninsula.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: December 8, 2004.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-27431 Filed 12-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S