[Federal Register: July 27, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 143)]
[Notices]               
[Page 40104]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jy98-49]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 071598B]

 
Marine Mammals; File No. 782-1455

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Permit No. 782-1455, issued to Dr. 
Douglas P. DeMaster, Director, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, 
Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, was amended.

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130 Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289);
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/586-7221; and
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 
90802-4213.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment has been issued 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 part 222), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The amendment authorizes the National Marine Mammal Laboratory to 
obtain and maintain northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) scientific 
specimens collected from the native subsistence harvest, authorizes 
harassment of northern fur seals while collecting/necropsying dead pups 
throughout the duration of the Permit, and changes the due date of the 
annual reports from December 31 to March 31 every year the permit is 
active.
    Issuance of this permit, 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: July 20, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-19988 Filed 7-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F