[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 63296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25480]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC100


Marine Mammals; File No. 17115

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to James 
Lloyd-Smith, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University 
of California, Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Box 723905, 
Los Angeles, California 90095-7239 to conduct research on California 
sea lions (Zalophus californianus).

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Joselyd Garcia-Reyes, 
(301)427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 12, 2012, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (77 FR 41171) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on the species identified above had been submitted by 
the above-named applicant. The requested permit 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 holder is authorized to study the prevalence of 
leptospirosis in wild California sea lions. Up to 5,100 California sea 
lions may be taken annually from A[ntilde]o Nuevo Island including 20 
by capture and release, 80 by capture/sample/release and 5,000 by 
incidental disturbance. Procedures include: capture (stalking, hoop 
net); restraint (board, cage, hand, net); anesthesia (gas); mark 
(flipper tag); measure; and sample (blood, urine, vibrissae). Up to 
3,000 northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) and up to 60 
Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) may be taken annually due to 
incidental disturbance. Up to four California sea lions may die 
incidental to the permitted activities. The permit expires September 
30, 2017.
    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: October 10, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-25480 Filed 10-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P