[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42757-42758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17152]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC541


Marine Mammals; File No. 17411

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Dr. 
Jennifer Burns, University of Alaska Anchorage, Biology Department, 
Anchorage, AK, to conduct research on marine mammals.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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; and
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams or Amy Sloan, (301)427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 8, 2013, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (78 FR 14984) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) had been 
submitted by the above-named applicant. The requested permit has been 
issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The permit allows: capture of adult female Weddell seals of known-
age and known-reproductive history in the Erebus Bay, Antarctica region 
for health assessments during reproductive and molt periods each year, 
to include blood samples, muscle/blubber/skin biopsies, morphometric 
measurements, and attachment of VHF/TDR/GPS tags; recapture of animals 
to retrieve instruments and collect additional measurements or samples; 
ground surveys of the population for molt status and demographic 
models; incidental harassment of crabeater seals (Lobodon 
carcinophagus) during surveys; mortality of adult female Weddell seals 
and dependent pups; and import of samples for analysis. The permit is 
valid through June 1, 2018.

[[Page 42758]]

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

     Dated: July 12, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-17152 Filed 7-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P