[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 51146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20225]



[[Page 51146]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB161


Marine Mammals; File No. 14535

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit amendment has been issued 
to Colleen Reichmuth, Ph.D., Long Marine Laboratory, University of 
California at Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, for 
research on captive pinnipeds.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before September 19, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The permit amendment 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: Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, 301-
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 9, 2013, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (78 FR 21112) that a request for an amendment to 
Permit No. 14535-01 to conduct research on captive pinnipeds had been 
submitted by the above-named applicant. The requested permit amendment 
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).
    Permit No. 14535-02 authorizes the addition of temporary threshold 
shift (TTS) studies to the currently approved research activities for 
captive pinnipeds held at Long Marine Laboratory in Santa Cruz, CA. 
This research may be conducted with up to two individuals from each of 
three species of ice seal: Spotted (Phoca largha), ringed (Phoca 
hispida), and bearded (Erignathus barbatus) seals trained for 
participation in ongoing behavioral hearing studies. This research will 
provide the first-ever direct information about the noise levels that 
cause a temporary, recoverable reduction in hearing sensitivity 
following exposure events in ice seals. The research is accomplished 
using trained behaviors in which the animals voluntarily participate 
and can leave the testing area at any time.
    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 
activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: August 15, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20225 Filed 8-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P