[Federal Register: June 30, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 125)] [Notices] [Page 35568] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr30jn98-54] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 062298D] Marine Mammals; File No. P368F AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Receipt of application for amendment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. James T. Harvey, Associate Professor, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, P.O. Box 450, Moss landing, CA 95039-0450, has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 974 (File No. P368F). DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before July 30, 1998. ADDRESSES: The amendment request 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); Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802- 4213 (562/980-4001); and Director, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (206/526-4045). Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request should be submitted to the Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this particular amendment 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 other electronic media. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Shapiro or Ruth Johnson, 301/713- 2289. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 974, issued on August 29, 1995 (60 FR 46577) is requested 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. 974 authorizes the permit holder to: determine body fat of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina); handle 20 harbor seal pups up to four times and 80 pups one time annually to track changes in health, physiological condition, and diving behavior; handle 20 adults and 20 juveniles four times annually to determine seasonal shifts in health, physiological condition, and diving behavior; and harass 600 harbor seals as a result of the above activities. The permit holder requests authorization to: increase the number of accidental mortalities from 2 to 15 to compensate for the effects of El Nino on pup condition, and increase total number of takes of adults and subadults. 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 23, 1998. Ann D. Terbush, Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 98-17339 Filed 6-29-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F