Permits: Marine mammals,

Text

---

Federal Register: March 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 43)NoticesPage 10649From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr05mr99-39

[Page 10649]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

I.D. 022399AMarine Mammals; File No. 782-1447-02

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 782-1447.

ADDRESSES: The amendment 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, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Shapiro or Ruth Johnson, 301/713- 2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 14, 1999, notice was published in the Federal Register (64 FR 2472) that an amendment of Permit No. 782- 1447, issued May 20, 1998 (63 FR 30201), 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.), the provisions of Sec. 216.39 of the Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the provisions of Sec. 222.25 of the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR 222.23), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).

Permit No. 782-1447 authorizes the National Marine Mammal Laboratory to: count, capture, handle, flipper tag, blood sample, and biopsy sample Steller sea lion pups (Eumetopias jubatus); dart biopsy adult and juvenile Steller sea lions; and disturb Stellers of all ages through aerial surveys over a two-year period. Research activities are scheduled to take place in Alaska. In addition, the Holder is authorized to disturb a small number of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on Bogoslof Island during aerial surveys.

This amendment now authorizes the Holder to: (1) conduct aerial surveys in February and March; (2) collect 25 cc blood from young-of- the-year and capture and handle all pups from March through July; and (3) administer Valium (5 mg/ml) to restrained sea lions as needed to minimize the potential for injury to animals and handlers.

Issuance of this amendment, as required by the ESA was based on a finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

Dated: February 26, 1999. Ann D. Terbush, Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

FR Doc. 99-5500Filed3-4-99; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 3510-22-F

---