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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18533-18534]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7956]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA341

Marine Mammals; File No. 15324

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 Department of Fish and 
Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, AK has applied for a 
permit to conduct research on marine mammals in Alaska.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before May 4, 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. 15324 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    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 [email protected]. 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.

[[Page 18534]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams or Laura Morse, (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 applicant requests a five-year permit to conduct scientific 
research on spotted (Phoca largha), ringed (Phoca hispida), bearded 
(Erignathus barbatus), and ribbon seals (Histriophoca fasciata) in the 
Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas of Alaska. The purpose of this 
research is to monitor the status and health of all four species by 
analyzing samples from the subsistence harvest and by documenting 
movements and habitat use by tracking animals with satellite 
transmitters. In addition to sampling harvested seals, the applicant 
would capture up to 200 individuals of each species per year. Captured 
seals would be measured and sampled (e.g., blood, blubber, skin, 
muscle, and whisker), and a subsample of these (120 per year per 
species) will be fitted with transmitters. The applicant also requests 
permission to harass non-target seals of each species and authorization 
for a limited number of research-related mortalities. Results of these 
studies would be used to monitor the health and status of each of the 
four species' populations, improve population assessments, and develop 
mitigation measures to minimize disturbance to these species that are 
important to the indigenous people of Alaska for subsistence food, 
materials, and for cultural significance. Samples would be imported 
from Russia, Canada, Svalbard (Norway) and exported to Canada for 
analyses.
    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 29, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-7956 Filed 4-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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