[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54093-54094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22075]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XT21


Marine Mammals; File No. 555-1870

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

ACTION:  Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that James T. Harvey, Ph.D., Moss 
Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA

[[Page 54094]]

95039, has been issued a major amendment to Permit No. 555-1870-01.

ADDRESSES:  The permit amendment and related documents are available 
for review 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Amy Sloan or Tammy Adams, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 8, 2010, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (75 FR 39206) that a request for an amendment to 
Permit No. 555-1870-01 to conduct research on harbor seals (Phoca 
vitulina) had been submitted by the above-named applicant. The 
amendment has been issued 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).
    The permit amendment (Permit No. 555-1870-02) authorizes an 
increase in the number of subadult harbor seals taken annually in 
California by capture, sedation, tagging, and sampling from 40 seals 
(20 males and 20 females) to 70 seals (35 males and 35 females). Also, 
a pilot study is authorized to bring up to six seals into temporary 
captivity to assess the efficacy of a modified sedation and suture 
protocol for implantation of subcutaneous radio tags. If effective, the 
modified protocols will be implemented in the field. The permit expires 
April 15, 2012.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: August 25, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-22075 Filed 9-3-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S