[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37089-37090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12753]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 061405D]


Marine Mammals; File No. 358-1787 and Permit No. 821-1588-02

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following applicants have 
applied in due form for a permit or permit amendment to conduct 
research on marine mammals:
    File No. 358-1787: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, D ivision of 
Wildlife Conservation, 1255 West 8th Street, Juneau, AK 99802 
(Principal Investigator: Robert Smalls, Ph.D.); and
    Permit No. 821-1588-02: Texas A&M University, Department of Marine 
Biology, 5007 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 77551 (Principal Investigator: 
Randall Davis, Ph.D.).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before July 28, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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;
    Files 358-1787 and 821-1588: Assistant Regional Administrator for 
Protected Resources, Alaska Region,

[[Page 37090]]

NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907)586-7235; fax 
(907)586-7012; and
    File 821-1588: Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected 
Resources, Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33701, phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309. Written 
comments or requests for a public hearing on these applications 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 these 
particular requests 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. 358-1787 or 821-1588.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Tammy Adams (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit and permit amendment are 
requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations 
Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), 
and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).

Permit Application

    File No. 358-1787: The ADF&\G has requested a permit to conduct 
scientific research on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), spotted seals (P. 
largha), ringed seals (P. hispida), ribbon seals (P. fasciata) and 
bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus). The seals would be captured, 
handled, sampled, tagged and released. The overall objective is to 
describe the ecology and behavior of these seal species. Harbor seals 
are the primary species to be studied to: monitor harbor seal 
population trends in Alaska, describe the movements, diving behavior, 
and haulout patterns; determine feeding habits and prey requirements; 
assess health status and physiology; and examine life history 
parameters. The applicant requests authority for incidental mortality 
of five harbor seals and one each of the ice seals annually. Seals 
would be incidentally harassed during capture activities and fecal 
collection.

Permit Amendment

    Permit No. 821-1588-02 authorizes the Holder to capture, sample, 
handle, and tag Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) on McMurdo 
Sound, Antarctica, and elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) on Ano 
Nuevo Island, California. The Permit also authorizes the Holder to 
approach, photograph, biopsy sample, and tag sperm whales (Physeter 
macrocephalus), conduct Level B harassment activities on small 
cetaceans in the Gulf of Mexico, and import/export marine mammal parts.
    The Holder now requests to amend the permit to allow capture, 
sampling, handling and tagging of Northern fur seals (Callorhinus 
ursinus) on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. The objective of this study 
is to characterize the movements, foraging behavior and habitat-
associations of northern fur seal pups during their first winter at 
sea. 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: June 16, 2005.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-12753 Filed 6-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S