[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 245 (Friday, December 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 77631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30239]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XM25


Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has developed a policy and guidance document for 
implementation of the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) and 
northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) research permits and grants 
programs. This document establishes policy for implementation of the 
preferred alternative and recommendations in Chapter 5 of the 2007 
Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Steller Sea 
Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before January 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The document is available for review on the EIS project 
webpage at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/steller.htm. To 
receive a hard copy, contact:
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226; phone (301)713-2289.
    Written comments should be mailed to: P. Michael Payne, Chief, at 
the address above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at 301-
427-2583 or email at [email protected]. For email comments, use 
``SSL EIS policy document'' in the subject line.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2007 NMFS completed the programmatic EIS 
and issued a Record of Decision (ROD) which identified the preferred 
alternative. NMFS limited implementation of the preferred alternative 
by limiting duration of research permits to span three summer field 
seasons, through July 2008. Full implementation of the preferred 
alternative is being phased in, upon completion of action items in the 
ROD and Chapter 5 of the EIS. The policy and guidance document is one 
item. Additional information about the EIS, ROD, and research permits 
issued in 2007 is available on the EIS project webpage (See ADDRESSES).

    Dated: December 15, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-30239 Filed 12-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S