[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 72178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30154]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XP18


Marine Mammals; File No. 14334

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. 
14334-01.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or emailed comments must be received on or 
before December 22, 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) 427-8401; 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 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 Tammy Adams, (301) 713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14334-01 
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. 14334-01, issued on March 21, 2011 (76 FR 18724), 
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 authorizes four mortalities of captive animals 
over the duration of the permit and two mortalities have occurred to 
date. The permit expires on August 31, 2014.
    The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to allow for 
the following: (1) The addition of a respiratory stimulant drug 
administered prior to anesthesia (in addition to during anesthesia, as 
currently permitted) to mitigate breath holding and decreased heart 
rate; (2) an increase in the number of pups/juveniles authorized for 
research from six to nine, to allow for an increased sample size for 
the permitted research due to acquisition of three new females in the 
breeding program; (3) the use of additional fecal markers (berries, 
rice, food coloring, and sesame seeds) to provide individually 
identifiable fecal samples for hormone analysis; (4) administration of 
deuterium oxide via a gastric tube followed by serial blood sampling to 
assess energy transfer from mother to pup during nursing; (5) the 
addition of a second male (currently a juvenile at ASLC) for breeding 
purposes; and (6) two additional mortalities of captive sea lions for 
the duration of the permit.
    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: November 14, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-30154 Filed 11-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P