[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 234 (Thursday, December 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73922-73923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28722]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC72


Marine Mammals; File No. 881-1758

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that an amendment to scientific 
research Permit No. 881-1758-00 has been issued to the Alaska SeaLife 
Center (ASLC), 301 Railway Avenue, Seward, AK 99664 (Dr. Ian Dutton, 
Responsible Party).

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
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.

[[Page 73923]]


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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 21, 2007, a notice was 
published in the Federal Register (72 FR 54001) that an application had 
been filed by the above named organization. The requested amendment has 
been issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The permit holder requested authorization to add ringed (Phoca 
hispida), spotted (P. largha), ribbon (P. fasciata), and bearded 
(Erignathus barbatus) seals undergoing rehabilitation at the ASLC to 
the permit for the same studies currently permitted on harbor seals (P. 
vitulina). The applicant also proposed changes to protocols used on 
harbor seals undergoing rehabilitation, including removing 
bioelectrical impedance measurements and adding blubber ultrasound 
measurements for body condition assessment; and adding resting 
metabolic measurements to aid in the understanding of metabolic changes 
associated with health, growth, and dietary transitions. The request to 
add ice seals to the permit has been denied, pursuant to regulations 
for application procedures (50 CFR 216.33). The permit amendment 
authorizes the requested changes to protocols for the harbor seal 
research.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
partial amendment is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: November 24, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-28722 Filed 12-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S