[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 7403-7404] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-3623] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 020698A] Marine Mammals AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Receipt of applications. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that applications have been submitted in due form for a permit or the amend an existing permit to take marine mammals for purposes of scientific research. DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before March 16, 1998. ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/ 713-2289); Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/ 586-7221); and Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (206/526-6150). Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these applications should be mailed to the Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on these particular requests would be appropriate. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301) 713-0376, provided [[Page 7404]] the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Please note that comments will not be accepted by e-mail or by other electronic media. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson, 301/713-2289. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR 222.23), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.). Applicants Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Seattle, WA 98115 (File No. 782-1446) requests a permit to conduct aerial, ground and boat surveys annually for stock assessment of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). California sea lions and harbor seals will be: captured, tagged and branded for long term identification of individuals for information on reproductive success, survival and longevity; blood and biopsy sampled for contaminant analysis; tissue sampled for genetic analysis; and instrumented with VHF radio transmitters and/or time-depth recorders or satellite tags to document movements activity and foraging patterns. Elephant seals will be captured, tagged, marked and released. Animals will be incidentally harassed during these activities and accidental mortalities are requested for each species to be captured. Activities will occur in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. University of Alaska Museum, 907 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775- 6960 (File No. 704-1444) requests a permit to obtain and archive specimens from all species of Cetacea and Pinnipedia (except walrus) for scientific research purposes. Samples will be obtained from marine mammals taken by Alaska Native subsistence hunters, and scientists involved in marine mammal research under other permit. Samples will also be imported and exported. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 3-2000, Juneau, AK 99802 (Principal Investigators: Lloyd Lowry, Kathryn Frost, Jonathan Lewis, and Kenneth Pitcher), (File No. P66K) requests an amendment to Permit No. 1000. The original permit authorizes capture, tagging and sampling of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and spotted seals (P. largha) in Alaska. The Permittee wants to amend the permit by increasing the number of animals that may be injected with deuterium oxide, and the number of animals may be incidentally harassed during the conduct of the authorized activities and increased scat collection activities. 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 this application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors. Dated: February 6, 1998. Ann D. Terbush, Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 98-3623 Filed 2-12-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F