[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 124 (Thursday, June 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35427-35428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12558]



[[Page 35427]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA97


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 782-1889, 358-1888, 881-1893, 881-1890, 
434-1892, 1049-1886, 1034-1887, 715-1884, 715-1885, 1118-1881, and 
1119-1882

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 research on 
Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) have been issued to the 
following individuals and institutions: The National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory (NMML), NMFS, Seattle, WA (File No. 782-1889); Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Wildlife Conservation, 
Juneau, AK (File No. 358-1888); The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), 
Seward, AK (File No. 881-1890); the Oregon Department of Fish and 
Wildlife (ODFW), Corvallis, OR (File No. 434-1892); Kate Wynne, 
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak, AK (File No. 1049-1886); Dr. 
Markus Horning, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science 
Center, Newport, OR (File No. 1034-1887); and the North Pacific 
Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium (NPUMMRC), University of 
British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. (File No. 715-1885).
    Notice is hereby given that permits to conduct research on northern 
fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) have been issued to the following 
individuals and institutions: the ASLC, Seward, AK (File No. 881-1893); 
the NPUMMRC, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. (File No. 
715-1884); the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, Tribal Government, 
Ecosystem Conservation Office, St. Paul Island, AK (File No. 1118-
1881); and the Aleut Community of St. George Island, St. George 
Traditional Council, St. George Island, AK (File No. 1119-1882).

ADDRESSES:  The permits and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s):
    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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 15, 2007, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (72 FR 7420) that requests for scientific 
research permits to take the species identified above had been 
submitted by the above-named individuals and institutions. 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.), 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.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, 
and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-
226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et 
seq.), as applicable.
    All Files: All permits are valid through August 1, 2009 and contain 
requirements for coordination and monitoring of research as well as 
mitigation measures deemed appropriate by NMFS. These permits can not 
be amended or extended. No permits authorize intentional capture of 
adult female Steller sea lions, or use of remotely delivered drugs for 
capture of Steller sea lions.
    File No. 782-1889: The permit issued to NMML authorizes activities 
to measure Steller sea lion population status, vital rates, foraging 
behavior, and condition in North Pacific Ocean areas including 
California, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The permit includes 
incidental harassment of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi), 
northern fur seals, and California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).
    File No. 358-1888: The permit issued to ADF&G authorizes activities 
to investigate the various hypotheses for the decline or lack of 
recovery of Steller sea lions in Alaska. The permit includes incidental 
harassment of harbor seals, northern fur seals, and California sea 
lions.
    File No. 881-1893: The permit issued to ASLC authorizes activities 
to characterize the movements, foraging behavior and habitat-
associations of northern fur seal pups during their first winter at sea 
in Alaska.
    File No. 881-1890: The permit issued to ASLC authorizes activities 
to conduct population monitoring and studies on health, nutrition, and 
foraging behavior of free ranging Steller sea lions in the Gulf of 
Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, and on temporarily captive Steller sea 
lions at the ASLC.
    File No. 434-1892: The permit issued to ODFW authorizes activities 
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 throughout California, Oregon, and Washington. The permit 
also authorizes incidental harassment of harbor seals and California 
sea lions.
    File No. 1049-1886: The permit issued to Kate Wynne authorizes 
activities to continue studies on the abundance, distribution, and diet 
of the western Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Steller sea lions 
in the western and central Gulf of Alaska.
    File No. 1034-1887: The permit issued to Dr. Horning authorizes 
activities to study condition and health status of juvenile Steller sea 
lions in the western DPS using remote imaging systems for 3-D 
photogrammetry at locations in Alaska and Oregon to census animals and 
monitor body mass, condition, and health trends. The permit also 
authorizes incidental harassment of California sea lions, harbor seals, 
and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris).
    File No. 715-1884: The permit issued to NPUMMRC authorizes 
activities 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 in Alaska.
    File No. 715-1885: The permit issued to NPUMMRC authorizes 
activities to continue a long-term research program to test various 
hypotheses for the decline of Steller sea lions in Alaska, including a 
study to assess pain and distress associated with hot-branding of 
Steller sea lions. The permit also authorizes incidental harassment of 
Northern fur seals, California sea lions, harbor seals, Northern 
elephant seals, and Killer whales (Orcinus orca).
    File No. 1118-1881: The permit issued to the Aleut Community of St. 
Paul Island authorizes activities to fulfill their Biosampling, 
Disentanglement, and Island Sentinel program responsibilities as 
established under the co-management agreement

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between NMFS and the Aleut Community. The permit also authorize 
incidental harassment of Steller sea lions and harbor seals.
    File No. 1119-1882: The permit issued to the Aleut Community of St. 
George Island authorizes activities to fulfill their Biosampling, 
Disentanglement, and Island Sentinel program responsibilities as 
established under the co-management agreement between NMFS and the 
Aleut Community. The permit also authorizes incidental harassment of 
Steller sea lions and harbor seals.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
(PEIS) for Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research was prepared 
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.
    Issuance of the permits for research on Steller sea lions, as 
required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permits: (1) were 
applied for in good faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of 
such endangered species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: June 21, 2007.
Carrie W. Hubard,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-12558 Filed 6-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S