[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 44 (Monday, March 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10463-10464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4865]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XU87
Marine Mammals; File No. 15126
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 NMFS National Marine Mammal
Laboratory, (Responsible Party: Dr. John Bengtson, Director), Seattle,
WA, has applied for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals in
Alaska.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before April 7, 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. 15126 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
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.
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 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, Conservation and Education
Division at the address listed
[[Page 10464]]
above. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing
on this application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams or Amy Sloan, (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 requests a five-year permit to investigate the
foraging ecology, habitat requirements, vital rates, and effects of
natural and anthropogenic factors for ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata),
spotted seals (P. largha), ringed seals (P. hispida), harbor seals (P.
vitulina), and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) in the North Pacific
Ocean, Bering Sea, Arctic Ocean and coastal regions of Alaska. The
applicant requests permission to capture up to 150 of each ice-
associated seal species (ribbon, spotted, ringed and bearded) per year
and up to 250 harbor seals annually for measurement of body condition,
collection of tissue samples (blood, blubber, muscle, skin, hair,
vibrissae, swab samples), attachment of telemetry devices, and other
procedures as described in the application. Up to 10 animals of each
species would be intentionally recaptured each year for retrieval of
instruments and additional sample collection. The applicant requests
permission to harass an additional 3,000 of each ice associated seal
species and 5,500 harbor seals annually incidental to capture
activities or during collection of feces and other samples from haul-
out substrate. The applicant requests allowance for unintentional
mortality of five individuals of each species 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: March 2, 2010.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-4865 Filed 3-5-10; 8:45 am]
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