[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 185 (Friday, September 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 48909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23249]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XR83


Marine Mammals; File No. 358-1787

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

ACTION:  Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that the Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, 1255 West 8th Street, Juneau, 
AK 99802 (Principal Investigator: Robert Small, Ph.D.), has applied for 
an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 358-1787-01.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before October 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 home 
page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 358-1787 
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
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.
    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 Amy Sloan, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment is requested 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).
    Permit No. 358-1787, issued on March 10, 2006 (71 FR 14503; March 
22, 2006), authorizes the permit holder to conduct surveys of, capture 
of, tissue sampling of, and attachment of tags and scientific 
instruments to harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), spotted seals (P. 
largha), ringed seals (P. hispida), ribbon seals (P. fasciata), and 
bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) in Alaska. The purpose of the 
permitted research is to allow studies to describe the ecology and 
behavior of these pinnipeds in Alaska. The permit was modified on June 
12, 2006, by minor amendment (Permit No. 358-1787-01) to extend the 
expiration date to December 31, 2011, and adjust the annual reporting 
period to accommodate the timing of field seasons. A second minor 
amendment (Permit No. 358-1787-02) was issued on April 4, 2008, to 
include within the existing allowance for incidental harassment 
``planned vessel approaches'' of harbor seals that have been 
instrumented with heart-rate monitors and time-depth recorders. That 
minor amendment did not result in takes of more harbor seals than were 
already permitted; and the objective was to examine the potential 
effects of vessel traffic on the metabolic rate and energetic budgets 
of harbor seals.
    The permit holder now requests to increase the number of ringed, 
bearded, spotted, and ribbon seals that may be captured, from 50 per 
year to 100 per year, to allow for selection of animals of specific 
age, sex, and molt condition. For these four species, the holder also 
requests to include permission to (1) administer diazepam as needed to 
sedate seals acting aggressively, (2) pull a whisker for stable isotope 
analyses of diet; and (3) include using a dip net from a boat as an 
additional capture method. The amendment would be valid for the 
duration of the permit, which expires on December 31, 2011.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: September 21, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-23249 Filed 9-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S