[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58941-58942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23872]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XK54


Marine Mammals; File No. 13602

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. Terrie Williams, Long Marine 
Lab, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California at Santa 
Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, has applied in due form 
for a permit to conduct research on captive marine mammals.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before November 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES:  The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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. 13602.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore or Amy Sloan, 
(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.), 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 222-226), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The applicant is requesting a permit to continue permitted 
activities authorized under Permit No. 984-1587. This research compares 
the energetic responses and diving physiology of odontocetes and 
pinnipeds to determine key physiological factors required for survival. 
Two adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) currently maintained 
at Long Marine Lab will be used as model species due to availability, 
trainability, and a foundation of data from previous studies. 
Additional odontocetes and other marine mammal species (up to 122 
animals representing 7 species over 5 years) would be added through 
cooperative agreements with accredited zoological institutions. Other 
species and subjects from rehabilitation and stranding programs may be 
added opportunistically. This research on captive animals will provide 
data for understanding the impact of changing environmental demands on 
wild marine mammals. Two approaches are used, (1) basic physiological 
evaluation (caloric intake, metabolism, heart rate, stroke rate, 
aerobic dive capacity, thermal capacity) measured seasonally on mature 
and immature dolphins, and (2) comparative evaluation of identical 
parameters for other species representing different evolutionary 
lineages. The results will be used to develop energetics models for 
large and small cetaceans as well as other marine

[[Page 58942]]

mammals to assist in management decisions for wild populations. A 
permit is requested for five years.
    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: October 3, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-23872 Filed 10-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S