[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26073-26074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6718]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042706D]


Marine Mammals; File No. 763-1845

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that the Smithsonian National 
Zoological Park (SNZP), 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20008 (John Berry, Responsible Party), has applied in due form for a 
permit to conduct research on Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelliis) 
and import and re-export marine mammal specimens for scientific 
research.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before June 2, 2006.

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,

[[Page 26074]]

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; and
    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 this 
application 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 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 e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 763-1845.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit 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).
    The SNZP proposes to test the hypothesis that food intake is 
important to the energetics of lactation in Weddell seals in McMurdo 
Sound, Antarctica, over a 2-year period. Researchers would repeatedly 
capture two groups of up to 50 mother-pup pairs each (Treatment and 
Control) for weighing, administering isotopes, collecting blood and 
milk samples, and application/removal of time-depth recorders and radio 
transmitters. Thus, researchers would determine water turnover, 
maternal energy expenditure, changes in body composition, milk nutrient 
transfer, maternal and pup diving behavior, and the onset of feeding by 
mothers and pups. Researchers would compare the Treatment group to the 
minimally handled Control group, captured only twice (at the beginning 
and end of lactation), for collection of samples, weighing, and isotope 
administration. Ontogeny of foraging would be monitored in pups from 
both experimental groups (Postweaning group). Up to 80 mother-pup pairs 
(Cross-sectional group) would be captured once per season to examine 
incidence of feeding during lactation. The applicant proposes to 
salvage tissue samples from seals that die naturally. Samples collected 
from Weddell seals and opportunistic samples from non-endangered marine 
mammals obtained legally by others would be imported into the U.S. and 
re-exported for scientific analysis. The applicant has requested a 5-
year permit.
    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: April 27, 2006.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-6718 Filed 5-2-06; 8:45 am]
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