[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 49 (Monday, March 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 13603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5852]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA288
Marine Mammals; File No. 15748
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 the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC),
Seward, AK, has applied for a permit to conduct research on Weddell
seals (Leptonychotes weddellii).
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before April 13, 2011.
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. 15748 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 e-mail to [email protected]. Please include the
File No. 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: Tammy Adams or Joselyd Garcia-Reyes,
(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 ASLC requests a four-year permit to study thermoregulation in
free-living Weddell seals in McMurdo Sound and along the shore of Ross
Island, Antarctica. The research would involve capture of up to 30
adult females and 20 pups/juveniles of either sex annually. Adult
females determined to not be pregnant and pups/juveniles of either sex
would be anesthetized or sedated, have scientific instruments attached
externally and inserted internally, be measured and weighed, have blood
and blubber samples collected, and receive an ultrasound. Animals would
be recaptured, with anesthesia or sedation, to retrieve instruments. An
additional 300 seals of any age and either sex may be harassed
incidental to the captures. The ASLC requests permission for up to 2
research-related mortalities per year of any animals affected by the
research. Samples collected would be exported from Antarctica for
analysis in the U.S.
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 8, 2011.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-5852 Filed 3-11-11; 8:45 am]
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