[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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7f3132392c512f0d4e3c1012121a110b0c3f11101e1e51181009"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a54575c49344a682b597577777f746e695a74757b7b347d756c">[email protected]</span></a>. 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]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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