Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 21, 2007 / Notices 13253 

required for the first three launches of 

the Delta IV vehicle. Diurnal 

observations were made at Flat Iron 

Rock on south VAFB. Pre-launch counts 

indicate a daily maximum of seals 

ranging between 26 and 87 seals and 

between 11 and 68 seals post-launch. 

No dependent pups were seen in the 

days surrounding the launch. As the 

launch occurred in the pre-dawn hours, 

no video recording was taken. It is 

unknown if any seals were present at 

the time of the launch; however, the 

high level of the tide indicates that it is 

unlikely. The 1–hour average sound 

level during the hour of the Delta IV 

launch was 69.1 decibels (dB), 

approximately 17 dB above the average 

background noise levels at this site. 

Two juvenile harbor seals 

(approximately seven months old) were 

captured for hearing tests using auditory 

brainstem response (ABR) technique 

just prior to the Delta IV DMSP–17 

launch under Scientific Research Permit 

No. 859–1680. They were held for a 

total of 2 days, and were ABR tested 

prior to and then again after the launch. 

Each seal was fitted with a plastic 

numbered tag in the hind flipper and a 

VHF radio transmitter immediately 

prior to release. There was no evidence 

indicating that the launch noise from 

the Delta IV caused a loss in hearing 

acuity. There was no evidence of injury, 

mortality, or abnormal behavior in any 

of the monitored harbor seals at VAFB 

as a result of this launch. 

Delta II NROL–21 

No monitoring was conducted on 

VAFB for the Delta II NROL–21 launch 

since it occurred outside of the harbor 

seal pupping season. However, 

biological and acoustic monitoring were 

conducted on SMI. Survey counts found 

521 sea lions and 75 northern elephant 

seals. No sonic boom was heard or 

recorded. There was no evidence of 

injury, mortality, or abnormal behavior 

of any monitored pinnipeds on SMI as 

a result of this launch. 

Minuteman III 

Two of the Minuteman III launches (7 

April and 14 June) occurred during the 

harbor seal pupping season, so 

monitoring was required at VAFB. 

Between seven and 16 seals and one 

dependent pup were seen in the days 

surrounding the April 7 launch at Lion’s 

Head haul-out site. Between five and 11 

seals and one weaned pup were seen at 

the same site in the days surrounding 

the June 14 launch. Video recordings 

were not possible during the time of 

either launch due to darkness. However, 

it is unlikely that any seals were present 

since the launches occurred during high 

tide. There was likely only a small, 

temporary effect on hearing, if any. 

Harbor Seal Pup Mortality 

One dead harbor seal pup was 

observed at First Ledge on VAFB on 

April 15, approximately 18 hours postlaunch of the Minotaur COSMIC rocket. 

The pup appeared to be ‘‘fresh dead’’

when first observed at 1430 PDT. VAFB 

monitors were unable to determine if 

the death was related to the launch. The 

area where the pup was found has a lot 

of ledges and caves, making it difficult 

to see all areas at the site. It is possible 

the pup washed up dead on the beach, 

but there is no way to know for certain. 

The animal did not show any signs of 

being orphaned. Gulls were already 

pecking at the carcass when it was 

discovered, so there was no way to 

assess the injuries. Also, approaching 

the animal would have disturbed other 

mother/pup pairs on the beach. 

Additional conditions have been 

added to the 2007 LOA relating to 

serious injury and mortality. No take by 

serious injury or mortality is authorized 

in the LOA. VAFB is required to 

immediately contact staff at the NMFS 

Office of Protected Resources, Permits, 

Conservation, and Education Division, 

as well as staff at the Southwest 

Regional Office, NMFS if a dead 

pinniped is found during the 

monitoring period following a launch. 

In addition, the National Stranding 

Network must be notified immediately 

so that personnel can retrieve the 

carcass for examination, whenever 

possible. Every attempt will be made to 

collect a dead pinniped carcass 

discovered within 48 hours following a 

launch provided that the collection does 

not result in the disturbance (flushing) 

of other animals from the site. Any 

carcasses collected will be transferred to 

the Long Marine Laboratory in Santa 

Cruz, California for complete necropsy. 

Authorization 

The U.S. Air Force complied with the 

requirements of the 2006 LOA, and 

NMFS has determined that the marine 

mammal take resulting from the 2006 

launches is within that analyzed in and 

anticipated by the associated 

regulations. Accordingly, NMFS has 

issued a LOA to the 30th Space Wing, 

U.S. Air Force authorizing the take by 

harassment of marine mammals 

incidental to missile and rocket 

launches at VAFB. Issuance of this LOA 

is based on findings described in the 

preamble to the final rule (67 FR 5720, 

February 6, 2004) and supported by 

information contained in VAFB’s 2006 

annual report that the activities 

described under this LOA will result in 

the take of small numbers of marine 

mammals, will have a negligible impact 

on marine mammal stocks, and will not 

have an unmitigable impact on the 

availability of the affected marine 

mammal stocks for subsistence uses. 

Dated: March 13, 2007. 

James H. Lecky, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–5072 Filed 3–20–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[I.D. 031607A] 

Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

Public Meetings 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meetings. 

SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Council) and its 

advisory entities will hold public 

meetings. 

DATES: The Council and its advisory 

entities will meet April 2–6, 2007. The 

Council meeting will begin on Monday, 

April 2, at 2 p.m., reconvening each day 

through Friday. All meetings are open to 

the public, except a closed session will 

be held from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. on 

Monday, April 2 to address litigation 

and personnel matters. The Council will 

meet as late as necessary each day to 

complete its scheduled business. 

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at 

the Seattle Marriott Hotel, 3201 South 

176th Street, Seattle, WA 98188; 

telephone: (206) 241–2000. 

Council address: Pacific Fishery 

Management Council, 7700 NE 

Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, 

OR 97220. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Donald O. McIsaac, Executive Director; 

telephone: (503) 820–2280. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

following items are on the Council 

agenda, but not necessarily in this order: 

A. Call to Order 

1. Opening Remarks and 

Introductions 

2. Roll Call 

3. Executive Director’s Report 

4. Approve Agenda 

B. Enforcement Issues 

1. U. S. Coast Guard Annual Fishery 

Enforcement Report 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
13254 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 21, 2007 / Notices 

C. Administrative Matters 

1. Future Council Meeting Agenda 

Planning 

2. Magnuson-Stevens Act 

Reauthorization Implementation 

3. Approval of Council Meeting 

Minutes 

4. Appointments to Advisory Bodies, 

Standing Committees, and Other 

Forums, Including any Necessary 

Changes to Council Operating 

Procedures 

5. Ecosystem Fishery Management 

Plan 

6. Legislative Matters 

7. Council Three-Meeting Outlook, 

Draft June 2007 Council Meeting 

Agenda, and Workload Priorities 

D. Open Public Comments on NonAgenda Items 

E. Groundfish Management 

1. NMFS Report 

2. Consideration of 2007 Inseason 

Adjustments 

3. Amendment 15: American 

Fisheries Act Issues 

4. Final Action on 2007 Inseason 

Adjustments 

F. Habitat 

Current Habitat Issues 

G. Salmon Management 

1. NMFS Recovery Plan for Klamath 

River Coho 

2. Tentative Adoption of 2007 Ocean 

Salmon Management Measures for 

Analysis 

3. Methodology Review Process and 

Preliminary Topic Selection for 2007 

4. Clarify Council Direction for 2007 

Ocean Salmon Management Measures 

(if Needed) 

5. Final Action on 2007 Ocean 

Salmon Management Measures 

6. Clarify Final Action on 2007 Ocean 

Salmon Management Measures (if 

Needed) 

H. Pacific Halibut Management 

Incidental Catch Regulations for the 

Salmon Troll and Fixed Gear Sablefish 

Fisheries 

I. Marine Protected Areas 

Review of Oregon Ocean Policy 

Advisory Council Report 

J. Highly Migratory Species 

Management 

1. NMFS Report 

2. Albacore Fishing Effort 

Characterization 

3. Longline Fishery Experimental 

Fishery Permit 

4. Yellowfin Tuna Overfishing 

5. Council Operating Procedure for 

Coordination with Regional Fishery 

Management Organizations 

6. Initial Guidance for Inter-American 

Tropical Tuna Commission Meeting 

SCHEDULE OF ANCILLARY MEETINGS 

Monday, April 2, 2007 

Council Secretariat 8 a.m. 

Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. 

Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. 

Salmon Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. 

Salmon Technical Team 8 a.m. 

Scientific and Statistical Committee 8 a.m. 

Habitat Committee 9 a.m. 

Legislative Committee 9:30 a.m. 

Methodology Evaluation Workgroup 1 p.m. 

Enforcement Consultants 4:30 p.m. 

Tribal Policy Group As necessary. 

Tribal and Washington Technical Group As necessary. 

Washington State Delegation As necessary. 

Tuesday, April 3, 2007 

Council Secretariat 7 a.m. 

California State Delegation 7 a.m. 

Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. 

Enforcement Consultants 8 a.m. 

Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. 

Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. 

Salmon Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. 

Salmon Technical Team 8 a.m. 

Scientific and Statistical Committee 8 a.m. 

Tribal Policy Group As necessary. 

Tribal and Washington Technical Group As necessary. 

Washington State Delegation As necessary. 

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 

Council Secretariat 7 a.m. 

California State Delegation 7 a.m. 

Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. 

Enforcement Consultants 8 a.m. 

Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. 

Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. 

Salmon Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. 

Salmon Technical Team 8 a.m. 

Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel 1 p.m. 

Highly Migratory Species Management Team 1 p.m. 

Enforcement Consultants As necessary. 

Tribal Policy Group As necessary. 

Tribal and Washington Technical Group As necessary. 

Washington State Delegation As necessary. 

Thursday, April 5, 2007 

Council Secretariat 7 a.m. 

California State Delegation 7 a.m. 

Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 21, 2007 / Notices 13255 

SCHEDULE OF ANCILLARY MEETINGS—Continued 

Enforcement Consultants 8 a.m. 

Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. 

Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. 

Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. 

Highly Migratory Species Management Team 8 a.m. 

Salmon Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. 

Salmon Technical Team 8 a.m. 

Enforcement Consultants As necessary. 

Tribal Policy Group As necessary. 

Tribal and Washington Technical Group As necessary. 

Washington State Delegation As necessary. 

Friday, April 6, 2007 

Council Secretariat 7 a.m. 

California State Delegation 7 a.m. 

Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. 

Enforcement Consultants 8 a.m. 

Salmon Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. 

Salmon Technical Team 8 a.m. 

Tribal Policy Group As necessary. 

Tribal and Washington Technical Group As necessary. 

Washington State Delegation As necessary. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in this agenda may come 

before this Council for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

Council action during this meeting. 

Council action will be restricted to those 

issues specifically listed in this notice 

and any issues arising after publication 

of this notice that require emergency 

action under Section 305(c) of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act, 

provided the public has been notified of 

the Council’s intent to take final action 

to address the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

These meetings are physically 

accessible to people with disabilities. 

Requests for sign language 

interpretation or other auxiliary aids 

should be directed to Ms. Carolyn Porter 

at (503) 820–2280 at least 5 days prior 

to the meeting date. 

Dated: March 16, 2007. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–5145 Filed 3–20–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[I.D. 020907C] 

Marine Mammals; Scientific Research 

Permit Applications 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications; 

extension of comment period. 

SUMMARY: On February 15, 2007, the 

NMFS announced receipt of seven 

applications for permits to conduct 

research on free-ranging threatened and 

endangered Steller sea lions 

(Eumetopias jubatus) in California, 

Washington, Oregon, and Alaska; five 

applications for permits to conduct 

research on free-ranging northern fur 

seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in Alaska; 

and one application for an amendment 

to a permit for activities with captive 

Steller sea lions in Alaska. Written 

comments were due by April 2, 2007. 

NMFS has decided to allow additional 

time for submission of public comments 

on this action. 

DATES: The public comment period for 

this action has been extended from 

April 2 to April 30, 2007. Written 

comments must be received or 

postmarked by April 30, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments or 

requests for a public hearing on these 

applications should be mailed to the 

Chief, Permits, Conservation and 

Education Division, F/PR1, Office of 

Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 EastWest Highway, Room 13705, Silver 

Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals 

requesting a hearing should set forth the 

specific reasons why a hearing on the 

particular request(s) would be 

appropriate. 

Comments may also be submitted by 

facsimile at (301) 427–2521, provided 

the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy 

submitted by mail and postmarked no 

later than the closing date of the 

comment period. 

Comments may also be submitted by 

e-mail. The mailbox address for 

providing e-mail comments is 

NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include 

the appropriate File Number(s) in the 

subject line of the e-mail comment as a 

document identifier. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Tammy Adams, Amy Sloan, Kate 

Swails, or Jaclyn Daly, (301)713–2289. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

February 15, 2007 (72 FR 7420) NMFS 

announced receipt of the following 

applications for permits: 782–1889, 

358–1888, 881–1893, 881–1890, 434–

1892, 1049–1886, 1034–1887, 715–1883, 

715–1884, 715–1885, 1118–1881, 1119–

1882, and 881–1745. Summaries of the 

specific permit applications can be 

found in the February 15, 2007, Federal 

Register notice and are not repeated 

here. Specific permit applications are 

available upon request from the 

locations provided in the February 15, 

2007, Federal Register notice and at 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ 

review.htm. 

Dated: March 15, 2007. 

P. Michael Payne, 

Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–5173 Filed 3–20–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

UNITED STATES PATENT AND 

TRADEMARK OFFICE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

The United States Patent and 

Trademark Office (USPTO) has 

submitted to the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) for clearance the 

following proposal for collection of 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES