[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 97 (Thursday, May 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28236-28237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12124]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XK54


Marine Mammals; File No. 13602

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 Dr. Terrie Williams, Long Marine 
Lab, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California at Santa 
Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, has applied for an 
amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 13602.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before June 21, 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. 13602 
from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    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 Jennifer Skidmore, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 13602 is 
requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing 
the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    Permit No. 13602, issued on September 4, 2009 (74 FR 46569), 
authorizes the permit holder to conduct research on captive and 
rehabilitating non-listed marine mammals to compare the energetic 
responses and diving physiology of odontocetes and pinnipeds to 
determine key physiological factors required for survival and to assist 
in management decisions for wild populations. The permit expires on 
September 7, 2014.
    The permit holder is requesting authorization to include 
physiological research on up to 18 captive Hawaiian monk seals 
(Monachus schauinslandi) in facilities in the United States, and 
opportunistic energetic assessments on stranded ESA-listed marine 
mammals under NMFS jurisdiction undergoing rehabilitation in 
California, using methods currently approved in Permit No.13602. In 
addition to the energetic assessments, the following research would be 
conducted on captive Hawaiian monk seals: deuterium oxide and Evan's 
blue administration, blood sampling, blubber ultrasound; and 
administration of thyroid stimulating hormone and fecal sampling. The 
applicant requests the transfer and use of tissues (brain and skeletal 
muscle) from Hawaiian monk seal carcasses and other dead ESA-listed 
marine mammal species for assessment of oxygen stores and aerobic dive 
limits. The amendment is requested for the duration of the permit.
    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.


[[Page 28237]]


    Dated: May 14, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-12124 Filed 5-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S