[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 77732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28368]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121704D]


Marine Mammals; File No. 984-1587

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 Dr. Terrie Williams, Long Marine 
Lab, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California at Santa 
Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, has requested an 
amendment to scientific research Permit No. 984-1587-03.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
January 27, 2005.

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)427-2521; 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 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)427-2521, 
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. 984-1587-04.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 984-
1587-03, issued on July 1, 2003 (68 FR 40912), 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. 984-1587-03 authorizes the permit holder to examine the 
physiological responses of two adult male dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) 
and five adult female California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) 
during swimming and diving. Testing involves measuring locomotor, 
thermal, and maintenance costs using voluntary behaviors through 
training at Long Marine Laboratory. Types of take for dolphins and sea 
lions include open flow respirometry, swimming, and voluntary breath 
holding. For the female sea lions, mating with an adult male on 
temporary loan, ultrasound, blood, milk, saliva, fecal, and urine 
sampling is also authorized to monitor pregnancy and test the 
hypothesis that physiological adaptations for the marine environment 
result in elevated energetic costs in otariids compared to terrestrial 
mammals.
    This amendment request is to supplement the current research 
program on otariid reproductive energetics with two juvenile California 
sea lions born at the pinniped facility at Long Marine Laboratory, 
University of California at Santa Cruz. These additions will allow the 
Permit Holder to evaluate the effects of nutrition on growth in 
immature sea lions. In addition, these animals have been determined 
unfit for release. All animals will follow the research protocols of 
the original 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: December 21, 2004.
Jennifer Skidmore,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-28368 Filed 12-27-04; 8:45 am]
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