[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 164 (Friday, August 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49648-49649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19577]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ77


Marine Mammals; File No. 774-1847-03

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center, Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program (Rennie Holt, Ph.D., 
Principal Investigator), 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 
has been issued an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 774-
1847-02.

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

[[Page 49649]]

    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)427-2521; and
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Swails or Tammy Adams, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 2, 2008 notice was published in the 
Federal Register (73 FR 31436) that an amendment of Permit No. 774-
1847-02 had been requested by the above-named organization. The 
requested amendment has been granted under the authority of the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and 
the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals 
(50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 774-1847-02, issued October 11, 2007 (72 FR 57914), 
authorizes the permit holder to continue a long-term ecosystem 
monitoring program of pinniped species in the South Shetland Islands, 
Antarctica. The permit holder is authorized to take up to 710 Antarctic 
fur seals (Arctophalus gazell) and 20 leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) 
annually. The animals are captured, measured, weighed, tagged, blood 
sampled, and have time-depth recorders, VHF transmitters, and platform 
terminal transmitters attached. A subset of fur seals are given an 
enema, have a tooth extracted, milk sampled, and are part of a doubly-
labeled water study on energetics. A subset of leopard seals are 
blubber and muscle sampled. Annual research-related mortality of up to 
eight Antarctic fur seals (3 adults and 5 pups) and two leopard seals 
is also authorized.
    The amendment authorizes the permit holder to collect tissue 
samples from and bleach mark 50 leopard seals. Additional capture is 
not required to collect these samples. The amendment also authorizes 
the researchers to begin a southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) 
study. Up to 180 southern elephant seals would be captured, measured, 
and tagged annually. A subset would have blood and vibrissae collected, 
muscle/blubber biopsied, and satellite tags attached. The permit 
amendment authorizes up to four research-related mortalities (two 
adults and two juveniles) of southern elephant seals. The amendment is 
valid until September 30, 2011.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: August 14, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-19577 Filed 8-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S