67 FR 148 pg. 49908 - Marine Mammals; File No. 881-1443
Type: NOTICEVolume: 67Number: 148Page: 49908
Docket number: [I.D. 062502C]
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-19430 Filed 7-31-02; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 062502C]
Marine Mammals; File No. 881-1443
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 Alaska SeaLifeCenter, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664 has been issued an amendment toscientific research Permit No. 881-1443.
ADDRESSES:
The amendment and related documents areavailable for review upon written request or by appointment in thefollowing office(s):
Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of ProtectedResources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13730, Silver Spring, MD20910 (301/713-2289); and
Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine FisheriesService, NOAA, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668(907/586-7221).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ruth Johnson or AmySloan, 301/713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On September 19, 2001,notice was published in the Federal Register (66 FR 48663)that an amendment of Permit No. 881-1443, issued March 27, 1998 (63FR 14905), had been requested by the above-named organization. Therequested amendment has been granted under the authority of the MarineMammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 etseq. ), the provisions of § 216.39 of the RegulationsGoverning the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), theEndangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ), and the provisions of § 222.25 of theregulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangeredfish and wildlife (50 CFR 222.23).
Issuance of this amendment, as required by the ESA was based on afinding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will notoperate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the subjectof this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies setforth in section 2 of the ESA.
The amendment authorizes modifications to existing research protocols aswell as new research projects. Modifications to existing protocolsinclude: (1) increasing frequency of blubber biopsies taken from Stellersea lions from 3 to 6 times per year for fatty acid and organochlorinetesting; (2) increasing mass of blubber biopsies taken from harbor sealsfrom 50 to 500 mg for organochlorine testing; (3) collecting saliva fromSteller sea lions and harbor seals for deuterium, steroid, and hormoneanalyses; (4) analyzing vaginal and preputial swabs for cell cytology inSteller sea lions and harbor seals; and (5) administering stable isotopesto Steller sea lions for nutritional studies.
New projects include: (1) hormone stimulation studies and collection offeces for assessment of stress or well-being in relation to diet in Stellersea lions; (2) bioenergetic studies of Steller sea lions involvingdetermination of metabolic rates using flow respirometry and metabolicchambers, and dietary marker administration and dry holding for collectionof urine and feces; (3) collection of skin and mucosal swabs from harborseals and Steller sea lions for development of cell lines andmicrobiological analyses; (4) administration of deuterium labeled vitamin Eand a vitamin A analog and increased frequency of blood sampling todetermine metabolic requirements of these vitamins; and (5)photographicstudies to determine pelage pattern consistency of harbor seals.
Dated: July 25, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation andEducation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National MarineFisheries Service
[FR Doc. 02-19430 Filed 7-31-02; 8:45 am]
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