[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 77616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31221]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XP18
[File No. 14334]


Marine Mammals

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 SeaLife Center (ASLC), 
301 Railway Avenue, Seward, AK 99664 (Dr. Ian Dutton, Responsible 
Party), has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 
14334.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before January 12, 2011.

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. 14334 
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 e-mail to [email protected]. Please include the 
File No. in the subject line of the e-mail 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 Tammy Adams, (301) 713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14334 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 parts 222-226).
    Permit No. 14334, issued on August 17, 2009 (74 FR 44822), 
authorizes the permit holder to investigate reproductive physiology of 
adult Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus; permanently captive, 
eastern stock) and survival, growth, and physiology of captive-bred 
offspring. They may also deploy biotelemetry instruments on the 
captives to develop and validate methods for monitoring wild Steller 
sea lions. The permit authorized two mortalities of captive animals 
over the duration of the permit. Two mortalities have occurred: A 
pregnant adult female and a near-term fetus. The permit holder is 
requesting the permit be amended to allow for two more mortalities of 
captive sea lions for the duration of the permit, which expires on 
August 31, 2014.
    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 activities proposed are consistent with the Preferred Alternative 
in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Steller 
Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research (NMFS 2007), and that issuance 
of the permit would not have a significant adverse impact on the human 
environment.
    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: December 7, 2010.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-31221 Filed 12-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P