[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 13093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5055]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D.031207C]


Marine Mammals; File No. 774-1847-01

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center, Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program (Rennie Holt, Ph.D., 
Principal Investigator), 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 
has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 774-
1847.

ADDRESSES: The amendment 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
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 23, 2007 notice was published in 
the Federal Register (72 FR 2868) that an amendment of Permit No. 774-
1847, issued September 11, 2006 (71 FR 53423) had been requested by the 
above-named organization. The requested amendment has been granted 
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. 774-1847 authorizes the permit holder to continue a 
long-term ecosystem monitoring program of pinniped species in the South 
Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The permit holder is authorized to take 
up to 710 Antarctic fur seals (Arctophalus gazell) and 20 leopard seals 
(Hydrurga leptonyx) annually. The animals are captured, measured, 
weighed, tagged, blood sampled, and have time-depth recorders, VHF 
transmitters, and platform terminal transmitters attached. A subset of 
fur seals are given an enema, have a tooth extracted, milk sampled, and 
are part of a doubly-labeled water study on energetics. A subset of 
leopard seals are blubber and muscle sampled.
    The amendment authorizes the permit holder to increase annual 
research-related mortality to eight Antarctic fur seals (3 adults and 5 
pups) and two leopard seals. Permit conditions are such that research 
must be stopped when the mortality level is reached. The amendment is 
intended to allow the continuation of the long-term monitoring studies 
in the event of greater than anticipated levels of research-related 
mortality.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: March 14, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-5055 Filed 3-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S