[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54369-54370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18230]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 090605D]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 1070-1783 and 1075-1788

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following individuals have 
applied in due form for permits to conduct research on marine mammals: 
Dr. Alejandro Acevedo-Gutierrez, Biology Department, Western Washington 
University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9160 (File No. 1070-1783); and Dr. 
Shane B. Kanatous, Department of Internal Medicine, University of 
Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 
75390-8573 (File No. 1075-1788).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before October 14, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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;
    File No. 1070-1783: Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax 
(206)526-6426; and
    File No. 1075-1788: 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 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 the particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (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 to 
[email protected]. Include the appropriate document identifier 
in the subject line of the e-mail comment: File No. 1070-1783 or 1075-
1788.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are 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).
    File No. 1070-1783: The applicant requests a five-year permit to 
study temporal and spatial variation in numbers and diet composition of 
harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in southern Padilla Bay, Washington to 
determine responses of harbor seals to changes in prey density and the 
impact of seal behavior on marine protected areas. Fecal samples would 
be collected from rookeries and haul-out sites for dietary analyses and 
seals would be counted during aerial and vessel surveys. The applicant 
requests to harass seals from the Washington Inland Waters Stock during 
the study. The estimated minimum number of harbor seals in this stock 
is 12,844 seals.
    File No. 1075-1788: The applicant requests a two-year permit to 
characterize the ontogenetic changes in skeletal muscle physiology in 
newly weaned, subadult, and adult Weddell seals (Leptonychotes 
weddellii) in the Antarctic and determine the molecular controls that 
regulate these changes. The applicant proposes to capture 15 adult, 15 
juvenile, and 10 weaned pups annually to collect small muscle biopsy 
samples from the swimming muscles to identify the proteins and 
transcription factors that regulate the changes in myoglobin 
concentration, fiber type distribution and aerobic capacity. These 
results are expected to increase understanding of the ontogeny and 
molecular mechanisms by which young seals acquire the physiological 
adaptations necessary to become competent divers and marine predators. 
The applicant also requests authorization for the research-related 
mortality of up to two seals per year if complications should arise 
during sedation and handling.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of these applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.


[[Page 54370]]


    Dated: September 8, 2005.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-18230 Filed 9-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S