[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 29, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 49703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17131]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC28


Marine Mammals; File No. 774-1847-02

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

ACTION:  Notice; Receipt of Application for 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 requested an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 
774-1847-01.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before September 28, 2007.

ADDRESSES:  The amendment request 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 request 
should be submitted 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 amendment 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. 774-1847-02.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 774-
1847-01, issued on March 20, 2007 (72 FR 13093) is requested 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. 774-1847-01 authorizes the permit holder to continue a 
long-term ecosystem monitoring program of pinniped species in the South 
Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The applicant is authorized to take up to 
710 Antarctic fur seals (Arctophalus gazella) 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 permit authorizes the 
research-related mortality of up to eight Antarctic fur seals (three 
adults and five pups) and one leopard seal annually. The permit holder 
requests authorization to collect vibrissae from any animal currently 
permited for capture as well as collect tissue samples from 50 adult 
male Antarctic fur seals. Additional capture is not required to collect 
these samples.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    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: August 23, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-17131 Filed 8-28-07; 8:45 am]
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