[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60411-60412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26085]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 092700B]


Marine Mammals; File No. 990-1603

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that, Lizabeth Bowen, John Muir 
Institute of the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA 
95616, has applied in due form for a permit to import blood samples for 
purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
November 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):

[[Page 60412]]

    Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-4001).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Simona Roberts, 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 proposes to import from Mexico whole blood taken from 
California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) to test two hypotheses: 
First, Leptospira interrogans pomona is not present in areas inhabited 
by sea lions in the Sea of Cortez population; Second, L. interrogans is 
present in the area, yet sea lions in the Sea of Cortez populations are 
unable to produce an immune response to L. interrogans pomona..
    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.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application 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 this particular 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 by other 
electronic media.
    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: October 4, 2000.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-26085 Filed 10-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S