[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 15933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05752]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC554


Marine Mammals; File No. 17952

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 Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., Department 
of Biology and Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, 
Santa Cruz, CA 95064, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
research on California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in 
California, Oregon and Washington.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 12, 2013.

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. 17952 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;
Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, 
Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426; 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 Amy Sloan, (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.), the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant would conduct research on California sea lions 
(Zalophus californianus) to investigate foraging, diving, energetics, 
food habits, and at sea distribution along the California coast. 
Procedures would include capture, sedation, morphometrics, isotope and 
Evans blue dye administration, blood sampling, tagging/marking, 
instrument attachment, stomach lavage and enema, urine sampling, swabs, 
blubber/muscle biopsy, metabolic measurements, doubly-labeled water 
measurements, hair and vibrissae collection, milk sampling, and scat 
collection. Up to 100 pups/juveniles and 100 adults would be sampled 
annually, with some or all of the procedures performed. The applicant 
also requests authorization to recapture tagged California sea lions 
throughout their U.S. range. Harassment of up to 8,450 California sea 
lions, 500 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), and 300 northern elephant 
seals (Mirounga angustirostris) annually incidental to these activities 
is requested. The applicant also requests unintentional research-
related mortality of up to 20 California sea lions over the course of 
the permit. Import and export of pinniped samples is also requested.
    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: March 8, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-05752 Filed 3-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P