[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14503-14504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4161]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 031506A]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 358-1787 and 1070-1783

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

ACTION:  Notice; issuance of permits.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that permits to conduct scientific 
research on marine mammals have been issued to Dr. Alejandro Acevedo-
Gutierrez, Biology Department, Western Washington University, 
Bellingham, Washington (File No. 1070-1783); and the Alaska Department 
of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, Alaska 
(File No. 358-1787).

ADDRESSES:  The permits 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;
    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. 358-1787: Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 
99802-1668; phone (907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 14, 2005, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (70 FR 54369) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in Washington had 
been submitted by Dr. Acevedo-Gutierrez. On June 28, 2005, notice was 
published in the Federal Register (70 FR 37089) that a request for a 
scientific research permit to take harbor seals, spotted seals (P. 
largha), ringed seals (P. hispida), ribbon seals (P. fasciata), and 
bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) in Alaska had been submitted by the 
Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The requested permits have been 
issued 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. 1070-1783-00 authorizes researchers to disturb harbor 
seals from the Washington Inland Waters Stock during aerial and vessel 
surveys and scat collections. The objective of the research is to study 
temporal and spatial variation in numbers and diet composition of 
harbor seals to determine responses of harbor seals to changes in prey 
density and the impact of seal behavior on marine protected areas. The 
permit is valid through March 2011.
    Permit No. 358-1787-00 authorizes researchers to disturb seals in 
Alaska during aerial surveys. The permit also allows researchers to 
capture, sample, and tag seals and to disturb additional seals 
incidental to these capture and sampling operations. The permit allows 
for the research-related mortality of a limited number of seals each 
year. The permit allows for the collection of biological samples from 
subsistence harvested seals for various analyses. The purpose of the 
research is to collect additional information on the ecology of these 
seal species with the objectives of estimating trends in population 
abundance and identifying factors affecting the decline of some 
populations. The permit is valid through March 2011.

[[Page 14504]]

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that 
issuance of the proposed permits is categorically excluded from the 
requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental 
impact statement.

    Dated: March 16, 2006.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-4161 Filed 3-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S