Federal Register: July 1, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 125)
DOCID: fr01jy09-37 FR Doc E9-15550
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN ID: RIN 0648-XQ09
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr01jy09-37
ACTION: Incidental Taking of Marine Mammals:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for an amendment
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Marine Mammals; File No. 774-1847
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or before July 31, 2009.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
Notice is hereby given that NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program (Michael Gobel, Ph D, Principal Investigator), 3333 N Torrey Pines Ct, La Jolla, CA 92037, has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 7741847 03.
SUMMARY:
Marine Mammals; File No. 774 – 1847
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The subject amendment to Permit No. 774- 184703, 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).
Permit No. 774184703, issued on August 14, 2008 (73 FR 49648) authorizes the applicant to take up to 710 Antarctic fur seals (Arctophalus gazella), 20 leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx), and 180 southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) annually in Antarctica.. The animals are captured, measured, weighed, tagged, blood sampled, vibrissae collected, and have timedepth recorders, VHF transmitters, and platform terminal transmitters attached. A subset of seals are given an enema, have a tooth extracted, milk sampled, blubber/muscle sampled, tissue sampled, and are part of a doublylabeled water study on energetics.
The Permit Holder requests authorization to begin a Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) study to understand movements, site fidelity, and demographics of this species in Antarctica. Up to 60 Weddell seals would be taken annually. Seals would be instrumented and sampled (blood, vibrissae, muscle/blubber, milk, and tissue). The applicant is requesting up to 4 researchrelated mortalities of Weddell seals (2 adults and 2 juveniles) annually. The applicant also requests authorization to deploy microprocessors attached to flipper tags on fur seals, increase the number of tissue samples collected from fur seals, increase the number of leopard seals and fur seals tagged (for the purposes of retagging), and use an unmanned aircraft system for aerial photography. These activities are proposed for the duration of the permit, which expires on September 30, 2011.
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 25, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E915550 Filed 63009; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351022S
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Kate Swails or Tammy Adams, (301)713- 2289.