[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 176 (Monday, September 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46975-46976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22037]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XR51


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 774-1847 and 1032-1917

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

ACTION:  Notice; issuance of permit amendments.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center, Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program (Michael Goebel, PhD, 
Principal Investigator), 3333 N Torrey Pines Ct, La Jolla CA, 92037 and 
Robert A. Garrott, Ph.D, Ecology Department, Montana State University, 
310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT, 59717 have been issued amendments to 
scientific research permits 774-1847-03 and 1032-1917, respectively.

ADDRESSES:  The 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
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 1, 2009 and June 16, 2009, notice 
was published in the Federal Register (74 FR 31413 and 74 FR 29179) 
that an amendment to Permit No. 774-1847-03 and an amendment to Permit 
No. 1032-1917 had been requested by the above-named individuals. The 
requested amendments have been granted 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 amendment to Permit No. 774-1847-03 authorizes a Weddell seal 
(Leptonychotes weddellii) study to understand movements, site fidelity, 
and demographics of this species in Antarctica. Up to 60 Weddell seals 
will be taken annually. Seals will be instrumented and sampled (blood, 
vibrissae, muscle/blubber, milk, and tissue). Up to 4 research-related 
mortalities of Weddell seals (2 adults and 2 juveniles) are authorized 
annually. The holder is also authorized to deploy microprocessors 
attached to flipper tags on Antarctic fur seals (Arctophalus gazella), 
increase the number of tissue samples collected from

[[Page 46976]]

fur seals, increase the number of leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) and 
fur seals tagged (for the purposes of retagging), and use an unmanned 
aircraft system for aerial photography. These activities are authorized 
for the duration of the permit, which expires on September 30, 2011.
    The amendment to Permit No. 1032-1917 authorizes the use of a small 
temperature logging tag on Weddell seal pups in the Erebus Bay, McMurdo 
Sound, Ross Sea, and White Island areas of Antarctica.. The additional 
tag will be used to measure the amount of time pups spend in the water. 
This information will be used as part of the mass dynamics studies. 
This activity is authorized for the duration of the permit, which 
expires on October 1, 2012.

    Dated: September 9, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-22037 Filed 9-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S