[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 121 (Thursday, June 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 38811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15856]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 060800E]


Marine Mammals; File No. 675-1563-01

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Graham A.J. Worthy, [Principal 
Investigator], Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, 5001 
Avenue U, Suite 105, Galveston, Texas 77551, has requested an amendment 
to scientific research Permit No. 675-1563.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before July 
24, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request and related documents are available 
for review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted to the Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, 
F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals requesting a 
hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this 
particular amendment request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301) 713-0376, 
provided 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 other electronic 
media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Simona Roberts, 301/
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 675-
1563, issued on June 6, 2000 (65 FR 36889) is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations Governing the Taking and 
Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), and the Fur Seal Act of 
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 675-1563 authorizes the permit holder to capture, mark, 
sedate, blood/biopsy sample 10 females and 20 pups Northern fur seals 
(Callorhinus ursinus), incidentally harass 60 animals of all ages, and 
accidentally kill up to 2 seals on the Pribilof Islands for a one-year 
period.
    The permit holder requests amendment to take by capture and sample, 
bleach mark an additional five female seals, increase accidental 
mortality to five, attach VHF radio tags to all females over a three-
year period, and to incidentally harass, annually, up to 13,000 animals 
of all ages.
    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: June 16, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-15856 Filed 6-21-00; 8:45 am]
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