[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 32081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13113]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC050


Marine Mammals; File No. 17236

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Robert A. Garrott, Ecology 
Department, Montana State University, 310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT, 
59717, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on 
Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 2, 2012.

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 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 17236 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    Permits and Conservation 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
    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 and Conservation 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 and Conservation 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: Colette Cairns or Tammy Adams, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The purpose of the research is to evaluate how environmental 
variability and individual heterogeneity affects the population 
dynamics of Weddell seals in the Antarctic. The applicant proposes to 
continue long-term studies of the Weddell seal population in the Erebus 
Bay, McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea and White Island areas of Antarctica. Up 
to 425 adults and 700 pups would be captured annually. Animals would be 
weighed, tissued sampled, flipper tagged, and released. A subset of 200 
pups annually would have a small temperature logging tag attached. The 
applicant requests authorization to opportunistically collect, import, 
and export Weddell seal parts and carcasses. Annually up to 2,000 
Weddell, 50 crabeater (Lobodon carcinophagus), and 50 leopard (Hydrurga 
leptonyx) seals may be incidentally disturbed as a result of the 
research activities. The applicant requests authorization for up to 4 
(2 adults and 2 pups) Weddell seal research-related mortalities 
annually. The permit would be valid for five years from the date of 
issuance.
    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 activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: May 23, 2012.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-13113 Filed 5-30-12; 8:45 am]
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