[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47207-47208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22180]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XR61


Marine Mammals; File No. 14535

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 Colleen Reichmuth, Ph.D., 
University of California at Santa Cruz, Long Marine Laboratory, 100 
Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA, has applied in due form for a permit to 
conduct research on captive pinnipeds.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before October 15, 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. 14535 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)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.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education

[[Page 47208]]

Division, at the address listed above. Comments may also be submitted 
by facsimile to (301)713-0376, or by email to 
[email protected]. Please include the File No. 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 above. The request should set forth the 
specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be 
appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Amy Sloan or Kate Swails, (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.) and the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The proposed five-year permit comprises a continuation of 
psychological and physiological studies at Long Marine Laboratory with 
captive pinnipeds, including California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus); harbor seals (Phoca vitulina); and northern elephant 
seals (Mirounga angustirostris), designed to evaluate their perceptual 
and cognitive capabilities. Measurements obtained using behavioral and 
physiological methods will be used to improve knowledge of pinniped 
sensory adaptations, examine cognitive mechanisms for acquiring and 
processing sensory information, and develop procedures for rapidly and 
humanely studying marine mammal hearing and the effects of 
anthropogenic noise. The captive animals are trained to voluntarily 
participate in behavioral stimulus detection and discrimination 
paradigms that may be conducted in air or under water. The applicant 
currently holds one California sea lion, one harbor seal, and one 
northern elephant seal, and requests permission to obtain additional 
animals for the research program over the duration of the permit, not 
to exceed a total of two of each species listed above. Additional 
animals would be obtained from captive and rehabilitation facilities, 
including permanently captive and non-releasable rehabilitated animals. 
If those sources are not available, releasable rehabilitated animals 
from West Coast rehabilitation facilities are requested.
    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 activity proposed is 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 application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: September 9, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-22180 Filed 9-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S