[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77997-77998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28540]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 122104B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 881-1758

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 the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), 
301 Railway Avenue, Seward, AK 99664, (Shannon Atkinson, Ph.D., 
Principal Investigator) has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
scientific research on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) undergoing 
rehabilitation.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
January 28, 2005.

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)427-2521; 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 either 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 the particular 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 email comment

[[Page 77998]]

the following document identifier: File No. 881-1758.

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 
(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 growth, development, and health of 
harbor seals throughout their residency in the ASLC Rehabilitation 
Program. Researchers would compare growth and health parameters of 
rehabilitated seals to permanently captive seals undergoing long-term 
dietary studies at the ASLC and to seals captured and sampled in the 
wild during other permitted studies.
    In addition to conducting standard rehabilitation practices, 
researchers would collect blood, fecal, and urine samples; collect body 
composition measurements using bioelectrical impedance and deuterium 
oxide, sodium bromide, Evan's blue dye, and nitrogen administration 
followed by post-administration blood samples; conduct assimilation 
efficiency experiments to study metabolic development; and collect 
blubber biopsies to study fatty acid composition and contaminant loads. 
The applicant has requested a 5-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: December 23, 2004.
Jennifer Skidmore,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-28540 Filed 12-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S