[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 31 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7420-7423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2689]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020907C]


Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit Applications

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: seven applications have been 
received for permits to conduct research on free-ranging threatened and 
endangered Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in California, 
Washington, Oregon, and Alaska; five applications have been received 
for permits to conduct research on free-ranging northern fur seals 
(Callorhinus ursinus) in Alaska; and one application has been received 
for an amendment to a permit for activities with captive Steller sea 
lions in Alaska.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 2, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s): See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    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(s) 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 e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include the 
appropriate File Number(s) in the subject line of the e-mail comment as 
a document identifier.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits for research on Steller 
sea lions 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), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, 
importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 
222-226). The subject permits for research on northern fur seals 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.).
    File No. 782-1889: The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML), 
NMFS, Seattle, Washington, requests a 5-year permit to measure Steller 
sea lion population status, vital rates, foraging behavior, and 
condition in North Pacific Ocean areas including California, 
Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Annually in the western Distinct 
Population Segment (DPS), up to 73,000 sea lions may be exposed to 
aerial surveys, 27,000 to rookery-based activities, and 23,000 to 
incidental activities. Up to 1,280 could be captured annually, with up 
to 630 having blood, skin and swab samples collected, 580 hot-branded, 
and up to 180 blubber and lesion biopsied, tooth and vibrissa removed, 
be ultrasonically imaged, and subject to stomach intubation or enema. 
Instruments may be attached on up to 280 per year, and 880 per year may 
receive a non-permanent tag or mark. Annually in the eastern DPS, up to 
26,000 may be exposed to aerial surveys, and 5,000 to incidental 
activities. Up to 12 could be captured per year, and have blood, skin, 
blubber, fecal, and culture samples collected, a tooth and vibrissa 
removed, hot-brand, tag or non-permanent mark applied, and have an 
instrument attached. NMML requests authorization for up to 10 research-
related mortalities of Steller sea lions per year (not to exceed 5 per 
year in the western DPS). Up to 5,000 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina 
richardsi) and 15,000 northern fur seals may be disturbed per year 
incidental to activities in Alaska. Up to 3,000 California sea lions 
(Zalophus californianus) and 200 harbor seals may be incidentally 
disturbed per year along the U.S. west coast.
    File No. 358-1888: The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), 
Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, Alaska, requests a 5-year 
permit to continue investigating the various hypotheses for the decline 
or lack of recovery of Steller sea lions in Alaska. The research covers 
a variety of activities including incidental disturbance during aerial 
surveys (up to 20,000 individuals per year in the eastern DPS), 
disturbance of animals on rookeries and haulouts during brand 
resighting surveys (up to 25,000 individuals annually in the eastern 
DPS and up to 5,000 individuals annually in the western DPS), and 
incidental to scat collection, capture for instrument attachment, 
physiological research and sample collection (up to15,000 individuals 
in the eastern DPS and 2,000 in the western DPS per year). Up

[[Page 7421]]

to 800 pups would be hot branded per year for long-term demographic and 
distribution studies. Up to 280 older animals would be captured per 
year for physiological assessment, with attachment of scientific 
instruments to investigate foraging ecology and diving behavior on up 
to 95 per year. ADF&G requests authorization for up to 10 research-
related mortalities of Steller sea lions per year (not to exceed 5 per 
year in the western DPS). Harbor seals, northern fur seals, and 
California sea lions may be disturbed incidentally during the course of 
this research due to proximity of isolated individuals to the Steller 
sea lion study area. Field work will take place during all seasons of 
the year and throughout the range of Steller sea lions in Alaska (both 
eastern and western DPS).
    File No. 881-1893: The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), Seward, 
Alaska, requests a 5-year permit to characterize the movements, 
foraging behavior and habitat-associations of northern fur seal pups 
during their first winter at sea. ASLC proposes to capture and 
instrument up to 50 northern fur seal pups annually on the Pribilof 
Islands and Bogoslof Island. Once captured, pups would be physically 
restrained and sedated for: blood sampling; measurements of body 
composition (isotope dilution, bioelectric impedance analysis, and 
ultrasonic imaging of blubber); taking skin, blubber, and muscle 
biopsies; collecting fecal loops and culture swabs; collecting 
vibrissae, hair and nails; attachment of flipper tags and marking fur 
temporarily; and attachment of scientific instruments and placement of 
internal stomach temperature transmitters. Up to 200 northern fur seals 
may be captured at sea in the North Pacific and subject to the same 
list of procedures as above, with the addition that adult females would 
undergo ultrasonography of the reproductive tract to determine 
pregnancy. Up to 5,000 fur seals of either sex and any age may be 
disturbed annually during approaches to the rookery to capture pups, to 
read flipper tags, and to check previously attached equipment for 
damage. When possible, fur seals returning to their natal island would 
be recaptured in subsequent years to remove instruments and to repeat 
blood collection and measurements of body composition. The ASLC 
requests authorization for up to four research-related mortalities of 
fur seals per year.
    File No. 881-1890: The ASLC requests a 5-year permit to conduct 
population monitoring and studies on health, nutrition, and foraging 
behavior of free ranging and temporarily captive Steller sea lions. 
Research would occur in the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands and 
at the ASLC. The purposes of this research are to provide data on pup 
and juvenile survival, reproductive rates, diet, epidemiology, 
endocrinology, immunology, virology, physiology, ontogenetic and annual 
body condition cycles, foraging behavior, and habitat selection. 
Individuals may be taken by disturbance associated with capture, remote 
video studies, scat and carcass collection, and mark resighting (14,000 
animals annually); capture, restraint and sampling (610 animals 
annually); and temporary captivity at ASLC with life history 
transmitter implantation (30 animals annually). Annually, captured sea 
lions (640 including those in temporary captivity) will undergo 
morphometrics measurements, blood and tissue collection, digital 
imaging, hot-branding, scientific instrument attachment, body condition 
measurement, whisker sampling, metabolic rate measurement, temporary 
marking, and x-ray exams. The ASLC requests authorization for up to 
seven research-related mortalities of Steller sea lions per year. The 
ASLC also requests authorization to collect an unlimited number of 
carcasses and hard and soft parts of dead Steller sea lions.
    File No. 434-1892: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 
(ODFW), Corvallis, Oregon, requests a 5-year permit to continue to 
assess status and monitor trend in Steller sea lion abundance, ecology, 
and vital rates in the southern extent of the Steller sea lion eastern 
DPS. Research would occur throughout California, Oregon, and Washington 
and cover a variety of activities. These activities include incidental 
disturbance to animals during aerial surveys (500 pups and 1,000 older 
animals per year), grounds counts and incidental scat collection (2,000 
pups and 4,000 older animals per year), as well as captures, sampling, 
behavioral observations, and monitoring (up to10,000 animals per year). 
ODFW also proposes to capture and sedate (physically or chemically) up 
to 200 pups and 10 adults annually for measuring, skin biopsying, 
flipper tagging or other marking, and hot-branding. In addition to the 
procedures above, 50 pups and 10 adults annually would have fecal loops 
and culture swabs collected and 80 pups and 10 adults per year would 
have scientific instruments attached. ODFW requests authorization for 
up to 10 research-related mortalities of Steller sea lions per year. Up 
to 1,000 harbor seals and 5,000 California sea lions may be disturbed 
annually incidental to this research.
    File No. 1049-1886: Kate Wynne, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 
Kodiak, Alaska, requests a 5-year permit to continue studies on the 
abundance, distribution, and diet of the western DPS of Steller sea 
lions. Authority is requested to harass animals for aerial surveys 
(13,000 individuals per year), scat collection (2,000 individuals per 
year), and land-based (500 individuals per year) and vessel-based 
(1,000 individuals per year) brand re-sighting activities. Activities 
would take place throughout the year; however, rookeries would not be 
approached in June to minimize disturbance during breeding and pupping 
season. Research would occur in the western and central Gulf of Alaska.
    File No. 1034-1887: Dr. Markus Horning, Oregon State University, 
Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon, requests a 5-year 
permit to study condition and health status of juvenile Steller sea 
lions in the western DPS; and, using satellite-linked Life History 
Transmitters (LHX), will estimate survival rates, and obtain long-term 
data on foraging effort and causes of mortality. Over five years, up to 
140 juvenile Steller sea lions will be captured, anesthetized, handled 
and sampled (morphometrics; 3-D photographic imaging; X-ray imaging; 
ultrasound; deuterium oxide administration; blood, whisker, hair, claw, 
blubber, and skin sample collections; mucosal swabs; naturally excreted 
feces), flipper tagged or hot-branded, and external instruments 
applied. Of those animals, 100 will additionally have internal LHX 
transmitters surgically implanted. Researchers would implant up to 50 
carcasses with the LHX transmitters to assess the effect of the non-
independence of two paired tags on the calculation of correction 
factors. Dr. Horning requests authorization for up to 15 research-
related mortalities over five years, not to exceed five in any one 
year. Dr. Horning also proposes to install remote imaging systems for 
3-D photogrammetry at locations in Alaska and Oregon to census animals 
and monitor body mass, condition, and health trends. Up to 10,500 
Steller sea lions may be harassed annually during capture and other 
activities. California sea lions, harbor seals, and northern elephant 
seals may also be harassed incidental to activities with Steller sea 
lions.
    File No. 715-1883: The North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal 
Research Consortium (NPUMMRC), University of British Columbia, 
Vancouver, B.C.,

[[Page 7422]]

requests a 5-year permit to conduct physiological studies on captive 
northern fur seals to test the hypothesis that changes in food supply 
or environmental conditions are inducing a state of nutritional stress 
that is causing changes in survival or reproductive success. Up to 32 
fur seal pups from St. Paul Island, AK, would be captured, restrained, 
and gender determined. Of those 32, up to 16 female pups would have 
blood samples taken and a veterinary heath exam performed. Of those 16, 
up to eight pups would be held in temporary enclosures for up to seven 
days for further health testing (blood sampling, physical exams). Of 
those eight, six female pups would be transported to the Vancouver 
Aquarium, Canada, for long-term physiological and nutritional research. 
During capture operations, up to 185 fur seals may be incidentally 
disturbed. The NPUMMRC requests up to one research-related mortality 
over the duration of the permit. While the actual captures will occur 
in a single year, the NPUMMRC has requested a 5-year permit to allow 
for flexibility in logistical coordination of the captures.
    File No. 715-1884: The NPUMMRC requests a 5-year permit to continue 
to study the distribution, life history, physiology, and foraging and 
behavioral ecology of northern fur seals on the Pribilof Islands and 
Bogoslof Island. Research activities would occur from July to October, 
annually, and involve harassment of animals for capture, measuring, 
flipper tagging, coded wire tagging, and blood, skin, blubber and 
vibrissae sampling (200 pups and 200 older animals per year). The pups 
would also be injected with tetracycline and be recaptured for age 
determination. Older animals would also be anesthetized and have a 
single post-canine tooth removed for aging. The NPUMMRC also requests 
to capture, measure, and attach scientific instruments to no more than 
30 lactating females annually. An additional five lactating females per 
year would be processed as above; however, they would not have 
scientific instruments attached. Incidental disturbance of up to 1,800 
pups and 775 older northern fur seals annually, and 100 Steller sea 
lions per year is requested. The NPUMMRC requests authorization for up 
to 10 research-related mortalities of northern fur seals per year. The 
NPUMMRC would also collect measurements, jaw bones, and teeth from 
subsistence hunted animals to assess body size and annual growth 
increments of northern fur seals.
    File No. 715-1885: The NPUMMRC requests a 5-year permit to continue 
a long-term research program to test various hypotheses for the decline 
of Steller sea lions in Alaska. The research would result in 
disturbance of Steller sea lions by the following activities: 
behavioral and demographic observations (up to 10,000 individuals in 
the western DPS and 5,000 in the eastern DPS per year), scat collection 
(up to 40,000 individuals in the western DPS and 15,000 in the eastern 
DPS per year), collection of carcasses or parts of carcasses (up to 
40,000 individuals in the western DPS and 15,000 in the eastern DPS per 
year), and aerial/boat surveys and camera maintenance (up to 10,000 
individuals in the western DPS and 5,000 in the eastern DPS per year). 
NPUMMRC requests authorization for up to four research-related 
mortalities of Steller sea lions per year. Northern fur seals, 
California sea lions, harbor seals, Northern elephant seals (Mirounga 
angustirostris), and Killer whales (Orcinus orca) may be disturbed 
incidental to this research. In conjunction with branding conducted by 
other permit holders the NPUMMRC would also conduct a 2-year study to 
assess pain and distress associated with hot-branding of Steller sea 
lions. The study would use 96 pups per year and follow a 2 x2 design: 
with and without branding, and with and without a post-operative non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic. Pain response would be measured 
using respiration rate, cortisol concentrations, body temperature, 
blood pressure, and using behavioral elements including movements and 
vocalizations.
    File No. 1118-1881: The Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, Tribal 
Government, Ecosystem Conservation Office, St. Paul Island, Alaska, 
requests a 5-year permit to fulfill their Biosampling, Disentanglement, 
and Island Sentinel program responsibilities as established under the 
co-management agreement between NMFS and the Aleut Community. The Aleut 
Community of St. Paul Island requests authorization for incidental 
disturbance of up to 550 northern fur seals per year during the 
collection of biological samples from dead stranded and subsistence 
hunted marine mammals. These samples would be exported to researchers 
studying the decline of northern fur seals. Up to 6,500 northern fur 
seals may be disturbed during disentanglement events. The Island 
Sentinel program may result in the disturbance of up to 3,400 northern 
fur seals per year during haulout and rookery observations, monitoring, 
and remote camera maintenance. Steller sea lions and harbor seals may 
be disturbed during the course of any of these activities.
    File No. 1119-1882: The Aleut Community of St. George Island, St. 
George Traditional Council, St. George Island, Alaska, requests a 5-
year permit to fulfill their Biosampling, Disentanglement, and Island 
Sentinel program responsibilities as established under the co-
management agreement between NMFS and the Aleut Community. The Aleut 
Community of St. George Island requests authorization for incidental 
disturbance of up to 450 northern fur seals per year during the 
collection of biological samples from dead stranded and subsistence 
hunted marine mammals. These samples would be exported to researchers 
studying the decline of northern fur seals. Up to 5,250 northern fur 
seals may be disturbed during disentanglement events. The Island 
Sentinel program may result in the disturbance of up to 3,400 northern 
fur seals per year during haulout and rookery observations, monitoring, 
and remote camera maintenance. Steller sea lions and harbor seals may 
be disturbed during the course of any of these activities.
    File No. 881-1745: The ASLC requests a 5-year amendment to Permit 
No. 881-1745 to breed captive Steller sea lions at the ASLC, to produce 
up to four pups, and conduct studies related to gestation, lactation, 
and pup growth and development. Permit No. 881-1745, issued March 16, 
2006 (59 FR 15387), currently allows studies on three adult (one male, 
two female) captive Steller sea lions held by the ASLC to investigate 
stress responses, endocrine and immune system function, and seasonal 
variations in normal biological parameters such as mass and body 
composition, and conduct of 'research and development' of external tags 
and attachments for future deployment on free-ranging animals. The 
purpose of the proposed amendment is to assess physical, metabolic, 
hormonal, and immunological changes related to gestation, lactation, 
and pup growth and development. The breeding part of this study may 
require the transfer of additional captive adult Steller sea lions from 
facilities in the U.S., or import from facilities in Canada. Offspring 
produced would be held at the ASLC for long-term physiological studies, 
or be transferred or exported to other facilities for permanent 
holding. During gestation the adult animals would be subject to 
currently permitted sampling procedures, with additional study-specific 
testing on the samples themselves. Milk samples would be collected from 
adult females. Offspring produced would be subject to sedation,

[[Page 7423]]

anesthesia, physical restraint, morphometric measurements, metabolic 
measurements, collection of urine and feces, blood sampling, and audio 
and visual recordings (e.g., audio, photographic, video, digital, 
thermal, radiographic). Offspring would be trained to encourage 
voluntarily participation in research activities to minimize the use of 
physical restraint, sedatives, or anesthetics during sampling. The ASLC 
requests one research-related mortality of any live-born Steller sea 
lion during the proposed study. The ASLC proposes that stillborn or 
spontaneously aborted pups not be considered related to the study or 
counted against any mortality allowance in their permit.
    NMFS is preparing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
(PEIS) for Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research to evaluate 
the potential environmental impacts of awarding grants and issuing 
permits to facilitate research on these species. Information about the 
PEIS is available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/steller.htm.
    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.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    All Files: 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; http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/review.htm;
    File Nos. 782-1889 and 434-1892: Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand 
Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone 
(206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426;
    All Files except 434-1892: Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249; and
    File Nos 782-1889 and 434-1892: Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West 
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-
4001; fax (562)980-4018.

    Dated: February 12, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-2689 Filed 2-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S