[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 53 (Friday, March 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 13257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6083]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XS13


Marine Mammals; File No. 87-1743

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 Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., Long 
Marine Laboratory, University of California at Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer 
Road, Santa Cruz, California 95060, has applied for an amendment to 
Scientific Research Permit No. 87-1743-05.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 19, 2010.

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. 87-1743 
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 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 Dr. Tammy Adams, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No.87-1743-
05 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. 87-1743-05, issued on September 29, 2009 (74 FR 52184), 
authorizes the permit holder to conduct long-term behavioral, 
physiological, and life history research studies on northern elephant 
seals (Mirounga angustirostris) in California. The permit expires on 
September 30, 2010. The permit holder is requesting an amendment to 
increase the number of weaned elephant seal pups weighed, measured, and 
flipper tagged by 100 animals in order to study the effects of a 
current El Nino event on weaned pup size and survival. The amendment 
would be valid for the duration of the permit.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a supplemental environmental assessment (SEA) 
was prepared to analyze the effects of issuing Permit No. 87-1743-05, 
and a finding of no significant impact was signed on September 30, 
2009. Based on the analysis in the SEA, NMFS has determined that 
issuance of Permit No. 87-1743-06 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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: March 15, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-6083 Filed 3-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S