[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64986-64987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26648]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XZ86


Marine Mammals; File No. 14525

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Oleg Lyamin, Ph.D., Dept. of 
Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles 
(UCLA), 16111 Plummer St., North Hills, CA 91343, has applied in due 
form for a permit to

[[Page 64987]]

import specimens of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) for 
scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before November 22, 2010.

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. 14525 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following office(s):
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301) 713-2289; 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.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the address 
listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-
0376, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Please include File 
No. 14525 in the subject line of the e-mail comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
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 Jennifer Skidmore, (301) 
713-2289.

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.), and the regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant proposes to import biological samples from 10 
subadult male fur seals over a five-year period for studies on 
mechanisms of sleep in fur seals. Fur seals will be captured in Russia, 
held in captivity, sampled while in captivity, and euthanized at the 
termination of study to obtain their brains. Whole brains and brain 
tissues will be imported to the U.S. for anatomical and 
immunohistochemical studies. The first aim of the project is to 
correlate the release of major neurotransmitters in the brain of the 
fur seal during sleep and waking using microdialysis, high-performance 
liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay analysis. The second aim of 
the study is to localize the distribution of the above mentioned cell 
groups in the fur seal brain as well as to localize the positions of 
the sites where the microdialysis samples were collected. Samples would 
be imported from Russia to UCLA for analysis and samples would be 
exported from the U.S. to South Africa for additional analysis.
    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: October 15, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-26648 Filed 10-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P