[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12009-12010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4703]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB033
Marine Mammals; File No. 16991
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 James T. Harvey, Ph.D., Moss
Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA
95039, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct scientific
research on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before March 29, 2012.
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. 16991 from the list of available applications.
These documents are also available upon written request or by
appointment in the following offices: (See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
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: Joselyd Garcia-Reyes or Amy Sloan,
(301) 427-8401.
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 examine the biology and ecology of harbor
seals and monitor health and condition of coastal populations of harbor
seals in California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska over a 5-year
period. The types of research that would be conducted under this permit
would include but are not limited to: (1) Abundance and distribution
surveys; (2) movements, survival, and causes of mortality; (3) effects
of human disturbance; (4) fisheries interactions and diet; (5) toxicant
levels and the effects of these toxicants on health; and (6)
reproductive strategies and success. Researchers would capture a
maximum of 1,770 harbor seals annually near haul-out sites in
California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska using tangle, salmon, and
set nets. Animals captured would have some or all of the following
procedures done: mass, sex, morphometrics, blubber depth and biopsy,
lavage/enema, flipper and PIT tagged, blood, swabs, skin and hair
samples, and attachment of RFID (radio-frequency identification),
acoustic, radio, GPS (Global Positioning System), or satellite tags,
and video or still cameras. An additional 1,065 individuals may be
incidentally captured and released without sampling, and 15,190
individuals may be taken annually via level B harassment by incidental
disturbance during capture or scat collection and exposure to playbacks
of vocalizations. Annually, up to 55 California sea lions (Zalophus
californianus) and 35 northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris)
could be disturbed during activities conducted under this permit. The
applicant requests up to ten incidental mortalities of harbor seals per
year with a five-year maximum of 25.
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.
Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
[[Page 12010]]
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;
Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Bldg.
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249; and
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018.
Dated: February 22, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-4703 Filed 2-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P