[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 174 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 52027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20773]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XK26


Marine Mammals; File No. 13430

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 the NMFS National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory, (Responsible Party: Dr. John Bengtson, Director), Seattle, 
WA, has applied for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before October 8, 2008.

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
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426.
    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. 13430.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Tammy Adams or Kate Swails, (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 proposes to conduct research on Pacific harbor seals 
(Phoca vitulina), California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), and 
northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) within coastal waters 
and on pinniped rookeries and haul outs of Washington and Oregon. 
Research activities would include aerial, vessel, and ground surveys; 
capture for collection of tissue samples, attachment of scientific 
instruments and application of marks (flipper tags, brands, etc.); and 
underwater playback experiments. The purpose of the research is to 
investigate: (1) abundance and distribution of harbor seals; (2) food 
habits and foraging ecology of harbor seals; (3) the ecology of 
contaminants, environmental toxins and infectious pathogens in harbor 
seals; (4) harbor seal life history parameters; (5) population 
substructure in harbor seals in Washington and Oregon; (6) abundance, 
distribution and health of California sea lions in Washington and 
Oregon; (7) California sea lion food habits and predation of 
threatened, endangered, and/or depleted fish stocks in Washington and 
Oregon; and (8) the abundance, distribution and health of northern 
elephant seals. The objective of the research is to provide information 
necessary for stock assessments and for management, including 
management of marine mammal predation on threatened and endangered 
salmon. The permit would be valid for five years and would authorize 
level B and level A harassment, including research-related mortality of 
limited numbers of each species. Please refer to the table in the 
application for the numbers of animals proposed for taking, and the 
locations and manner of such taking.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a draft environmental assessment (EA) has 
been prepared to examine whether significant environmental impacts 
could result from issuance of the proposed scientific research permit. 
Based on the analyses in the EA, it is NMFS initial determination that 
issuance of the permit would not significantly impact the quality of 
the human environment and that preparation of an environmental impact 
statement is not required.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: September 2, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-20773 Filed 9-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S