[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7823-7824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2982]


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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; issuance of 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 has been issued a major 
amendment to Permit No. 13602.

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

[[Page 7824]]

13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 713-2289; fax (301) 713-
0376;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018; and
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Room 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 944-2200; fax (808) 973-2941.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 20, 2010, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (75 FR 28236) that a request for an amendment Permit 
No. 13602 to conduct research on captive and rehabilitating threatened 
and endangered marine mammals had been submitted by the above-named 
applicant. On December 8, 2010, notice was published in the Federal 
Register (75 FR 76399) that changes to the application were requested.
    The requested permit amendment has been issued 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 (ESA; 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).
    The permit holder is authorized to conduct physiological research 
on 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 is authorized 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 amendment has been issued for the duration of the permit.
    An environmental assessment (EA) analyzing the effects of the 
permitted activities on the human environment was prepared in 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined 
that issuance of the permit would not significantly impact the quality 
of the human environment and that preparation of an environmental 
impact statement was not required. That determination is documented in 
a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
    As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

     Dated: February 3, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-2982 Filed 2-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P