[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 207 (Friday, October 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60822-60823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21096]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD61


Marine Mammals; File No. 10080

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

ACTION:  Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that Dr. Kathryn A. Ono, Department of 
Biological Sciences, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, has 
applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before November 26, 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

[[Page 60823]]

    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394.
    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. 10080.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Tammy Adams or Jaclyn Daly, (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 applicant requests a 5-year permit to examine expanding 
populations of the Western North Atlantic stocks of harbor seals (Phoca 
vitulina concolor) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Gulf of 
Maine. The objectives of the study are to assess the state of harbor 
seal population health; determine movement and diving patterns of 
weaned harbor seal pups; compare disease loads, survival, and behavior 
of rehabilitated harbor seal pups with wild pups; and assess behavior, 
population dynamics, and health of grey seals. The research would 
involve capture of up to 200 harbor seals and 500 grey seals annually 
for attachment of flipper tags, physical examinations, and tissue 
sampling to assess health, behavior, and population dynamics. Up to 10 
of the 400 harbor seals captured annually would have satellite tags 
attached for recording data on movement and dive patterns. An 
additional 100 grey seals annually may be remotely marked with paint or 
hair dye to facilitate behavioral observations. Up to 400 harbor seals, 
2500 grey seals, 150 harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and 150 
hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) may be harassed annually incidental 
to capture and sampling. The applicant has requested authorization for 
the unintentional research related mortality of up to 2 harbor seals 
and 4 grey seals annually.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NMFS has initially determined that issuance 
of the proposed permit is consistent with a category of activities 
identified in NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 that do not individually 
or cumulatively have the potential to pose significant impacts on the 
quality of the human environment and are therefore exempted from 
further environmental review and requirements to prepare environmental 
review documents.
    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: Ocrober 23, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-21096 Filed 10-25-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S