[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 142 (Monday, July 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 37015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17840]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XQ48


Marine Mammals; File No. 14097

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 National Marine Fisheries 
Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) (Jeremy Rusin, 
Principal Investigator), Protected Resources Division, 3333 N. Torrey 
Pines Ct., La Jolla, CA 92037, has applied in due form for a permit to 
conduct scientific research on five pinniped species, 57 cetacean 
species, and five sea turtle species in the Pacific, Southern, Indian, 
and Arctic Oceans.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before August 26, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The application 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, and then selecting File 
No. 14097 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following office(s): See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the address 
listed below. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301)713-
0376, or by email to [email protected]. Please include File No. 
14097 in the subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
Division at the address listed below. The request should set forth the 
specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be 
appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Kristy Beard or Amy Hapeman, 
(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.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    The SWFSC requests a five-year permit to take marine mammals and 
sea turtles for scientific research purposes in the Pacific, Southern, 
Indian, and Arctic Oceans. Five species of pinniped, fifty-seven 
species of cetacean, and five species of sea turtles will be targeted 
for study. The application consists of three projects. The purposes of 
Project I (Pinnipeds) are to conduct population assessments for 
northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), California sea lions 
(Zalophus californianus), Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and 
harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) via aerial photography, ground or vessel 
surveys, and photogrammetry to determine abundance, distribution 
patterns, length frequencies, and breeding densities. Scats and 
spewings will be collected from California sea lions to determine their 
diet. This research is part of an ongoing program to assess the status 
of pinniped species and identify fishery-marine mammal conflicts. The 
purpose of Project II (Cetaceans) is to determine the abundance, 
distribution, movement patterns, and stock structure of cetaceans in 
U.S. territorial and international waters. These studies will be 
conducted through vessel surveys, aerial surveys, small plane 
photogrammetry, photo-identification (from vessels and small boats), 
biological sampling, radio tagging, and satellite tagging. Cetacean 
abundance data will be used to set limits of allowable human caused 
mortality under the MMPA and to monitor trends in abundance through 
time. The purpose of Project III (Sea Turtles) is to determine the 
abundance, distribution, movement patterns, stock structure, and diet 
of sea turtles in U.S. territorial and international waters. Sea 
turtles will be opportunistically captured during Project II for 
collection of blood samples, stomach contents, and tissue biopsy and to 
attach satellite tags. The SWFSC also requests the salvage and import/
export of cetacean, pinniped, and sea turtle parts, specimens, and 
biological samples collected during these projects.
    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.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    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;
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018; and
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)944-2200; fax (808)973-2941.

    Dated: July 21, 2009.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-17840 Filed 7-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S