[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 14 (Thursday, January 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3224-3225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00998]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD720


Marine Mammals; File No. 18673

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 Leslie Cornick, Ph.D., Alaska 
Pacific University, 4101 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, has 
applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on northern fur 
seals (Callorhinus ursinus).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before February 23, 2015.

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. 18673 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the 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 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: Rosa L. Gonz[aacute]lez or Amy Sloan; 
phone: (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), and the Fur Seal Act 
of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The applicant requests authorization for takes of northern fur 
seals, Eastern Pacific Stock, in the Pribilof Islands from September to 
November annually over a five-year period. The applicant requests 
authorization to capture, restrain, sedate, attach external 
instruments, measure (standard morphometrics and weight), sample 
(blood, vibrissae, blubber, and muscle), and ultrasound up to 10 
lactating adult females and 10 juvenile males per year. All procedures, 
with the exception of blubber and muscle biopsy would also be performed 
on up to 10 paired pups per year, without sedation. Identifiable scats 
would be collected opportunistically from sampled

[[Page 3225]]

individuals and from other fur seals for comparative diet analysis. The 
applicant also requests incidental disturbance of 900 animals and four 
unintentional mortalities (including humane euthanasia if warranted) 
per year.
    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: January 15, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-00998 Filed 1-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P