[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 180 (Friday, September 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47918-47919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22500]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XK26


Marine Mammals; File No. 13430

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of amended application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the NMFS National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory, (Responsible Party: Dr. John Bengtson, Director), Seattle, 
WA, has submitted a revised application for a permit to conduct 
research on marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before October 19, 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. 13430 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
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 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: Tammy Adams or Kate Swails, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 8, 2008, notice was published 
(73 FR 52027) of a request for a permit 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 applicant has amended the application to request the permit 
include annual harassment of up to 250 threatened Eastern Distinct 
Population Segment Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and 100 
Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) incidental to aerial 
surveys and underwater playback experiments, respectively.
    The amended application still proposes conduct of research on 
Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus), and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) 
within coastal waters and on pinniped rookeries and haul outs of 
Washington and Oregon. Please refer to the table in the amended 
application for the numbers of animals proposed for taking, and the 
locations and manner of such taking.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a draft environmental assessment (EA) has 
been prepared to examine whether significant environmental impacts 
could result from issuance of the proposed scientific research permit. 
Based on the analyses in the EA, it is NMFS initial determination that 
issuance of the permit would not significantly impact the quality of 
the human environment and that preparation of an environmental impact 
statement is not required.
    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.


[[Page 47919]]


    Dated: September 14, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-22500 Filed 9-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S