[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 64 (Monday, April 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15460-15461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7708]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XO42


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14197 and 782-1812

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Air Force, 30th Space 
Wing Civil Engineer Environmental Flight, Vandenberg Air Force Base, 
CA, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine 
mammals (File No. 14187); and NMFS National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 
Seattle, WA, has applied for a major amendment to Scientific Research 
Permit No. 782-1812 for research on marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before May 6, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/index.cfm, and then 
selecting File No. 14197 or 782-1812 from the list of available 
applications.
    These documents are also available 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
    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 these 
applications 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 the 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 the 
File No. (14197 or 782-1812) in the subject line of the e-mail comment 
as a document identifier.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit and major amendment are 
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).
    File No. 14197. The proposed permit would authorize continued 
studies of the effects of noise from rocket and missile launches and 
subsequent launch-generated sonic booms on pinnipeds inhabiting 
Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) and the northern Channel Islands 
(NCI). Continuing research would examine effects from new launch 
vehicles, including the Delta IV. Target species are Pacific harbor 
seals (Phoca vitulina richardii), California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus), and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). 
Anticipated research activities include capture with physical or 
chemical restraint, hearing tests, blood sampling, physiological 
measurements, and attachment of telemetry instruments. The applicant 
proposes to capture 50 harbor seals per year at VAFB, with incidental 
harassment of up to 600 harbor seals, 50 northern elephant seals, and 
10 California sea lions annually. On the NCI, the applicant proposes to 
capture 450 harbor seals per year with incidental harassment of 2,700 
animals annually, inclusive for the three targeted species. No 
mortalities are anticipated, but two incidental harbor seal deaths 
annually are requested at VAFB, as are two incidental deaths per 
species annually for the NCI. The permit is requested for a 5-year 
period.
    File No. 782-1812. The proposed permit amendment would authorize an 
increase in the number of California sea lions that could be taken per 
year for the duration of the permit, which expires June 30, 2011. The 
location of the research would remain the California Channel Islands. 
The applicant is requesting changes in research protocols and 
objectives that require capture, marking, and sampling of additional 
animals, and would result in incidental harassment of additional 
animals. The permit would be amended to increase numbers of takes of 
California sea lions for (1) harassment incidental to live and dead pup 
censuses in the California Channel Islands; (2) capture of pups 4 to 11 
months old for condition health studies; (3) evaluating various methods 
of chemical immobilization for adult males; (4) evaluating different 
handling and marking methods of pups; and (5) investigating the 
breeding system using molecular genetics and behavioral observations of 
adult males.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement 
to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact 
statement.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.


[[Page 15461]]


    Dated: March 31, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-7708 Filed 4-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S