[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 21735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08739]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD237


Marine Mammals; File No. 18438

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 the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC; 
Responsible Party, Tara Jones, Ph.D.) 301 Railway Avenue, P.O. Box 
1329, Seward, AK 99664, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
research on Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before May 19, 2014.

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. 18438 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following office:
    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.
    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 File No. 18438 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: Amy Sloan 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.), 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 222-226).
    The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) requests a five-year permit to 
conduct Steller sea lion population monitoring and health, nutrition, 
and foraging studies to provide data on pup and juvenile survival, 
reproductive rates, diet, epidemiology, endocrinology, immunology, 
physiology, ontogenetic and annual body condition cycles, and behavior. 
Individual sea lions may be taken by the following means with maximum 
number of takes per year in parentheses: disturbance associated with 
capture, observational studies, and material/scat/carcass collection 
(14,000); capture, restraint, and sampling (200); and remote biopsy 
(150). Captured sea lions will undergo morphometric measurements, blood 
and tissue collection, digital imaging, hot-branding, body condition 
measurement, whisker, hair, and milk sampling, temporary marking, and 
ultrasound exams. Individuals will be taken from the Gulf of Alaska and 
Aleutian Islands. Marine mammals that may be incidentally disturbed 
include harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), sea otters (Enhydra lutris), and 
California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).
    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 the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: April 14, 2014.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-08739 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P