[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 190 (Monday, October 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 57566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19732]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 090805B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 774-1649-03

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, 
La Jolla, California 92038 (Principal Investigator: Rennie Holt, Ph.D.) 
has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 774-1649-
02.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments on the new application 
and amendment requests must be received on or before November 2, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The application, 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)427-2521; and
    Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, Southwest 
Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-
4213; phone (562)980-4020; fax (562)980-4027.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
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 this 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. 774-1649-03.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Tammy Adams, 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment is 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).
    Permit No. 774-1649-02, issued to the NMFS, Southwest Fisheries 
Science Center, authorizes the Holder to capture and restrain 100 
adults/juveniles and 600 Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) 
pups to: handle (weigh and measure); sample (extract tooth, blood, and 
milk); and tag (flipper tag and instrument). Additionally, the Permit 
authorizes incidental harassment of Southern elephant seals (Mirounga 
leonina), Crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus), Leopard seals 
(Hydrurga leptonyx), Ross seals (Ommatophoca rossii), and Weddell seals 
(Leptonychotes weddellii) during census surveys and mortality of up to 
three Antarctic fur seals incidental to capture operations. The Permit 
expires April 30, 2006.
    The Holder now requests an amendment to the Permit to conduct 
additional activities on 15 Antarctic fur seal females and 30 pups 
already authorized to be taken. There would be no change in the total 
number of animals captured or the number of captures per animal each 
year. Adult females and pups would be administered isotopes (doubly-
labeled water (DLW)) for female/pup energetic studies. Blood samples 
would be collected pre- and post administration of isotopes. Seals 
would be held up to three hours and the female and pup released 
simultaneously. Additionally, pups would be lavaged to remove milk from 
their stomachs before the administration of DLW.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding a copy of this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: Sptember 26, 2005.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-19732 Filed 9-30-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S