[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 31306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13919]



[[Page 31306]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF530


Marine Mammals; File No. 21006

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Linnea Pearson, California 
Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, 
has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 21006.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 31, 2019.

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 
home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 
21006 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: Sara Young or Amy Sloan, (301) 427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 21006 is 
requested 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).
    Permit No. 21006, issued on September 15, 2017 (82 FR 48985; 
October 23, 2017), authorizes the permit holder to conduct research on 
Weddell seals in the Antarctic. The permit holder is requesting the 
permit be amended to include authorization for: Increased take of pups 
to twelve total, sedation of all pups at all time points, collection of 
blood samples for all pups at all time points, use of a cannulated 
needle for biopsy instead of a biopsy punch, attachment of flipper 
mounted VHF to pups at three weeks of age, attachment of accelerometer 
tags at one week of age, use of antibiotics to treat local or systemic 
infection, and collection of rectal swabs, vaginal swabs, prepucial 
swabs, nasal swabs, lingual swabs, buccal swabs, and superficial 
lingual epithelial scrapes from all pups at all time points.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-13919 Filed 6-28-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P