[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 27292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9341]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 0648-XA31]


Marine Mammals; File No. 1032-1917

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

ACTION:  Notice; receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that Robert A. Garrott, Ecology 
Department, Montana State University, 310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 
59717, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on 
Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii).

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before June 14, 2007.

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, 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 e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 1032-1917.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Kate Swails 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 purpose of the research would be to evaluate how temporal 
variation in the marine environment affects a long-lived mammal's 
population dynamics. The applicant proposes to continue long-term 
studies of the Weddell seal population in the Erebus Bay, McMurdo 
Sound, Ross Sea and White Island areas of Antarctica. Up to 325 adults 
and 800 pups would be captured annually. Animals would be weighed, 
tissued sampled, flipper tagged, and released. Annually up to 2000 
Weddell, 50 crabeater (Lobodon carcinophagus), and 50 leopard (Hydrurga 
leptonyx) seals may be incidentally disturbed as a result of the 
research activities. The applicant requests authorization for up to 4 
(2 adults and 2 pups) Weddell seal research-related mortalities 
annually. The permit would be valid for five years from the date of 
issuance.
    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: May 10, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-9341 Filed 5-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S