[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20565-20566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9062]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XV90
Marine Mammals; File No. 14636
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 Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D.,
University of California at Santa Cruz, Long Marine Laboratory, 100
Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA, has applied in due form for a permit to
conduct research on northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris).
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before May 20, 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. 14636 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 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 20566]]
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) 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 purpose of the proposed research is to continue long-term
studies on northern elephant seals in California, including population
growth and status, reproductive strategies, behavioral and
physiological adaptations for diving and fasting, general physiology
and metabolism, and sensory capacities. Northern elephant seals,
totaling a maximum of 3,930 animals per year over 5 years, would be
taken by harassment during some or all of the following: behavioral
observations, marking, flipper tagging, capture and biological
sampling, attachment of instrumentation for tracking, translocation
studies, short-term capture for laboratory studies, use of standard
clinical tracer techniques, and acoustic studies (recordings, playbacks
of natural calls, and tagging devices). The applicant requests
unintentional mortality of up to 5 elephant seals per year; and
euthanasia of up to 10 moribund pups per year. Incidental harassment of
northern elephant seals and California sea lions is also requested.
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: April 14, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-9062 Filed 4-19-10; 8:45 am]
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