[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 33997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16673]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF22


Marine Mammals; File No. 775-1875

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 NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center (NEFSC), Woods Hole, MA, has been issued a major amendment to 
Permit No. 775-1875 for research on marine mammals.

ADDRESSES:  The permit amendment 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)713-0376; and
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9333.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 14, 2009, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (74 FR 17165) that a request for an amendment to 
Permit No. 775-1875 to conduct research on harbor seals (Phoca 
vitulina) and gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) on rookeries and haulouts 
in the northeastern U.S. had been submitted by the above-named 
applicant. The requested permit amendment has been issued under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking and 
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The amended permit authorizes an increase in the number of harbor 
seals and gray seals that may be harassed incidental to scat collection 
from 5,000 and 2,000 respectively, to 20,000 per species annually. It 
also authorizes collection of an additional 30 harbor seal pup 
carcasses per year found during research activities.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an environmental assessment (EA) was prepared 
analyzing the effects of the permitted activities on the human 
environment. Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined that 
issuance of the permit would not significantly impact the quality of 
the human environment and that preparation of an environmental impact 
statement was not required. That determination is documented in a 
Finding of No Significant Impact, signed on July 7, 2009.

    Dated: July 8, 2009.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-16673 Filed 7-13-09; 8:45 am]
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