Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit Applications, 7420-7423 [E7-2689]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 31 / Thursday, February 15, 2007 / Notices
comment the following document
identifier: File No. 984–1814–01.
Kate
Swails or Tammy Adams, (301)713–
2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject amendment to Permit No. 984–
1814, issued on June 19, 2006 (71 FR
37060), 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. 984–1814 authorizes the
permit holder to capture up to 20 adult
Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii)
and disturb up to 30 adult and 10
juvenile seals annuallyin McMurdo
Sound, Antarctica. The animals have a
data logger/video system attached,
muscle biopsies and blood samples
collected, and blubber thickness
measured. The permit also authorizes
up to 3 research-related mortalities per
year. The permit holder requests an
amendment to change the field season
for this project from five August to
December field seasons to three back to
back field seasons over the course of
two research years. This would allow
researchers to investigate different light
phases. Researchers would attach data
logger/video systems to 24 adult seals
and another 24 seals would have timedepth recorders attached annually.
Researchers would measure metabolic
rates of all captured seals using openflow respirometry.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: February 12, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7–2688 Filed 2–14–07; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 020907C]
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Marine Mammals; Scientific Research
Permit Applications
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.
AGENCY:
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that:
seven applications have been received
for permits to conduct research on freeranging threatened and endangered
Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in
California, Washington, Oregon, and
Alaska; five applications have been
received for permits to conduct research
on free-ranging northern fur seals
(Callorhinus ursinus) in Alaska; and one
application has been received for an
amendment to a permit for activities
with captive Steller sea lions in Alaska.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail
comments must be received on or before
April 2, 2007.
ADDRESSES: The applications and
related documents are available for
review upon written request or by
appointment in the following office(s):
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Written comments or requests for a
public hearing on these applications
should be mailed to the Chief, Permits,
Conservation and Education Division,
F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those
individuals requesting a hearing should
set forth the specific reasons why a
hearing on the particular request(s)
would be appropriate.
Comments may also be submitted by
facsimile at (301)427–2521, provided
the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy
submitted by mail and postmarked no
later than the closing date of the
comment period.
Comments may also be submitted by
e-mail. The mailbox address for
providing e-mail comments is
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include
the appropriate File Number(s) in the
subject line of the e-mail comment as a
document identifier.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tammy Adams, Amy Sloan, Kate
Swails, or Jaclyn Daly, (301)713–2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject permits for research on Steller
sea lions are requested under the
authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), 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.), and the regulations governing
the taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50
CFR 222–226). The subject permits for
research on northern fur seals are
requested under the authority of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et
seq.), the regulations governing the
taking and importing of marine
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mammals (50 CFR part 216), and the Fur
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C.
1151 et seq.).
File No. 782–1889: The National
Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML),
NMFS, Seattle, Washington, requests a
5–year permit to measure Steller sea
lion population status, vital rates,
foraging behavior, and condition in
North Pacific Ocean areas including
California, Washington, Oregon, and
Alaska. Annually in the western
Distinct Population Segment (DPS), up
to 73,000 sea lions may be exposed to
aerial surveys, 27,000 to rookery-based
activities, and 23,000 to incidental
activities. Up to 1,280 could be captured
annually, with up to 630 having blood,
skin and swab samples collected, 580
hot-branded, and up to 180 blubber and
lesion biopsied, tooth and vibrissa
removed, be ultrasonically imaged, and
subject to stomach intubation or enema.
Instruments may be attached on up to
280 per year, and 880 per year may
receive a non-permanent tag or mark.
Annually in the eastern DPS, up to
26,000 may be exposed to aerial
surveys, and 5,000 to incidental
activities. Up to 12 could be captured
per year, and have blood, skin, blubber,
fecal, and culture samples collected, a
tooth and vibrissa removed, hot-brand,
tag or non-permanent mark applied, and
have an instrument attached. NMML
requests authorization for up to 10
research-related mortalities of Steller
sea lions per year (not to exceed 5 per
year in the western DPS). Up to 5,000
harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi)
and 15,000 northern fur seals may be
disturbed per year incidental to
activities in Alaska. Up to 3,000
California sea lions (Zalophus
californianus) and 200 harbor seals may
be incidentally disturbed per year along
the U.S. west coast.
File No. 358–1888: The Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G),
Division of Wildlife Conservation,
Juneau, Alaska, requests a 5–year permit
to continue investigating the various
hypotheses for the decline or lack of
recovery of Steller sea lions in Alaska.
The research covers a variety of
activities including incidental
disturbance during aerial surveys (up to
20,000 individuals per year in the
eastern DPS), disturbance of animals on
rookeries and haulouts during brand
resighting surveys (up to 25,000
individuals annually in the eastern DPS
and up to 5,000 individuals annually in
the western DPS), and incidental to scat
collection, capture for instrument
attachment, physiological research and
sample collection (up to15,000
individuals in the eastern DPS and
2,000 in the western DPS per year). Up
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to 800 pups would be hot branded per
year for long-term demographic and
distribution studies. Up to 280 older
animals would be captured per year for
physiological assessment, with
attachment of scientific instruments to
investigate foraging ecology and diving
behavior on up to 95 per year. ADF&G
requests authorization for up to 10
research-related mortalities of Steller
sea lions per year (not to exceed 5 per
year in the western DPS). Harbor seals,
northern fur seals, and California sea
lions may be disturbed incidentally
during the course of this research due to
proximity of isolated individuals to the
Steller sea lion study area. Field work
will take place during all seasons of the
year and throughout the range of Steller
sea lions in Alaska (both eastern and
western DPS).
File No. 881–1893: The Alaska SeaLife
Center (ASLC), Seward, Alaska, requests
a 5–year permit to characterize the
movements, foraging behavior and
habitat-associations of northern fur seal
pups during their first winter at sea.
ASLC proposes to capture and
instrument up to 50 northern fur seal
pups annually on the Pribilof Islands
and Bogoslof Island. Once captured,
pups would be physically restrained
and sedated for: blood sampling;
measurements of body composition
(isotope dilution, bioelectric impedance
analysis, and ultrasonic imaging of
blubber); taking skin, blubber, and
muscle biopsies; collecting fecal loops
and culture swabs; collecting vibrissae,
hair and nails; attachment of flipper tags
and marking fur temporarily; and
attachment of scientific instruments and
placement of internal stomach
temperature transmitters. Up to 200
northern fur seals may be captured at
sea in the North Pacific and subject to
the same list of procedures as above,
with the addition that adult females
would undergo ultrasonography of the
reproductive tract to determine
pregnancy. Up to 5,000 fur seals of
either sex and any age may be disturbed
annually during approaches to the
rookery to capture pups, to read flipper
tags, and to check previously attached
equipment for damage. When possible,
fur seals returning to their natal island
would be recaptured in subsequent
years to remove instruments and to
repeat blood collection and
measurements of body composition. The
ASLC requests authorization for up to
four research-related mortalities of fur
seals per year.
File No. 881–1890: The ASLC requests
a 5–year permit to conduct population
monitoring and studies on health,
nutrition, and foraging behavior of free
ranging and temporarily captive Steller
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sea lions. Research would occur in the
Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands
and at the ASLC. The purposes of this
research are to provide data on pup and
juvenile survival, reproductive rates,
diet, epidemiology, endocrinology,
immunology, virology, physiology,
ontogenetic and annual body condition
cycles, foraging behavior, and habitat
selection. Individuals may be taken by
disturbance associated with capture,
remote video studies, scat and carcass
collection, and mark resighting (14,000
animals annually); capture, restraint and
sampling (610 animals annually); and
temporary captivity at ASLC with life
history transmitter implantation (30
animals annually). Annually, captured
sea lions (640 including those in
temporary captivity) will undergo
morphometrics measurements, blood
and tissue collection, digital imaging,
hot-branding, scientific instrument
attachment, body condition
measurement, whisker sampling,
metabolic rate measurement, temporary
marking, and x-ray exams. The ASLC
requests authorization for up to seven
research-related mortalities of Steller
sea lions per year. The ASLC also
requests authorization to collect an
unlimited number of carcasses and hard
and soft parts of dead Steller sea lions.
File No. 434–1892: The Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife
(ODFW), Corvallis, Oregon, requests a
5–year permit to continue to assess
status and monitor trend in Steller sea
lion abundance, ecology, and vital rates
in the southern extent of the Steller sea
lion eastern DPS. Research would occur
throughout California, Oregon, and
Washington and cover a variety of
activities. These activities include
incidental disturbance to animals
during aerial surveys (500 pups and
1,000 older animals per year), grounds
counts and incidental scat collection
(2,000 pups and 4,000 older animals per
year), as well as captures, sampling,
behavioral observations, and monitoring
(up to10,000 animals per year). ODFW
also proposes to capture and sedate
(physically or chemically) up to 200
pups and 10 adults annually for
measuring, skin biopsying, flipper
tagging or other marking, and hotbranding. In addition to the procedures
above, 50 pups and 10 adults annually
would have fecal loops and culture
swabs collected and 80 pups and 10
adults per year would have scientific
instruments attached. ODFW requests
authorization for up to 10 researchrelated mortalities of Steller sea lions
per year. Up to 1,000 harbor seals and
5,000 California sea lions may be
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disturbed annually incidental to this
research.
File No. 1049–1886: Kate Wynne,
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak,
Alaska, requests a 5–year permit to
continue studies on the abundance,
distribution, and diet of the western
DPS of Steller sea lions. Authority is
requested to harass animals for aerial
surveys (13,000 individuals per year),
scat collection (2,000 individuals per
year), and land-based (500 individuals
per year) and vessel-based (1,000
individuals per year) brand re-sighting
activities. Activities would take place
throughout the year; however, rookeries
would not be approached in June to
minimize disturbance during breeding
and pupping season. Research would
occur in the western and central Gulf of
Alaska.
File No. 1034–1887: Dr. Markus
Horning, Oregon State University,
Hatfield Marine Science Center,
Newport, Oregon, requests a 5–year
permit to study condition and health
status of juvenile Steller sea lions in the
western DPS; and, using satellite-linked
Life History Transmitters (LHX), will
estimate survival rates, and obtain longterm data on foraging effort and causes
of mortality. Over five years, up to 140
juvenile Steller sea lions will be
captured, anesthetized, handled and
sampled (morphometrics; 3–D
photographic imaging; X-ray imaging;
ultrasound; deuterium oxide
administration; blood, whisker, hair,
claw, blubber, and skin sample
collections; mucosal swabs; naturally
excreted feces), flipper tagged or hotbranded, and external instruments
applied. Of those animals, 100 will
additionally have internal LHX
transmitters surgically implanted.
Researchers would implant up to 50
carcasses with the LHX transmitters to
assess the effect of the nonindependence of two paired tags on the
calculation of correction factors. Dr.
Horning requests authorization for up to
15 research-related mortalities over five
years, not to exceed five in any one year.
Dr. Horning also proposes to install
remote imaging systems for 3–D
photogrammetry at locations in Alaska
and Oregon to census animals and
monitor body mass, condition, and
health trends. Up to 10,500 Steller sea
lions may be harassed annually during
capture and other activities. California
sea lions, harbor seals, and northern
elephant seals may also be harassed
incidental to activities with Steller sea
lions.
File No. 715–1883: The North Pacific
Universities Marine Mammal Research
Consortium (NPUMMRC), University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.,
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requests a 5–year permit to conduct
physiological studies on captive
northern fur seals to test the hypothesis
that changes in food supply or
environmental conditions are inducing
a state of nutritional stress that is
causing changes in survival or
reproductive success. Up to 32 fur seal
pups from St. Paul Island, AK, would be
captured, restrained, and gender
determined. Of those 32, up to 16
female pups would have blood samples
taken and a veterinary heath exam
performed. Of those 16, up to eight pups
would be held in temporary enclosures
for up to seven days for further health
testing (blood sampling, physical
exams). Of those eight, six female pups
would be transported to the Vancouver
Aquarium, Canada, for long-term
physiological and nutritional research.
During capture operations, up to 185 fur
seals may be incidentally disturbed. The
NPUMMRC requests up to one researchrelated mortality over the duration of
the permit. While the actual captures
will occur in a single year, the
NPUMMRC has requested a 5–year
permit to allow for flexibility in
logistical coordination of the captures.
File No. 715–1884: The NPUMMRC
requests a 5–year permit to continue to
study the distribution, life history,
physiology, and foraging and behavioral
ecology of northern fur seals on the
Pribilof Islands and Bogoslof Island.
Research activities would occur from
July to October, annually, and involve
harassment of animals for capture,
measuring, flipper tagging, coded wire
tagging, and blood, skin, blubber and
vibrissae sampling (200 pups and 200
older animals per year). The pups
would also be injected with tetracycline
and be recaptured for age determination.
Older animals would also be
anesthetized and have a single postcanine tooth removed for aging. The
NPUMMRC also requests to capture,
measure, and attach scientific
instruments to no more than 30 lactating
females annually. An additional five
lactating females per year would be
processed as above; however, they
would not have scientific instruments
attached. Incidental disturbance of up to
1,800 pups and 775 older northern fur
seals annually, and 100 Steller sea lions
per year is requested. The NPUMMRC
requests authorization for up to 10
research-related mortalities of northern
fur seals per year. The NPUMMRC
would also collect measurements, jaw
bones, and teeth from subsistence
hunted animals to assess body size and
annual growth increments of northern
fur seals.
File No. 715–1885: The NPUMMRC
requests a 5–year permit to continue a
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long-term research program to test
various hypotheses for the decline of
Steller sea lions in Alaska. The research
would result in disturbance of Steller
sea lions by the following activities:
behavioral and demographic
observations (up to 10,000 individuals
in the western DPS and 5,000 in the
eastern DPS per year), scat collection
(up to 40,000 individuals in the western
DPS and 15,000 in the eastern DPS per
year), collection of carcasses or parts of
carcasses (up to 40,000 individuals in
the western DPS and 15,000 in the
eastern DPS per year), and aerial/boat
surveys and camera maintenance (up to
10,000 individuals in the western DPS
and 5,000 in the eastern DPS per year).
NPUMMRC requests authorization for
up to four research-related mortalities of
Steller sea lions per year. Northern fur
seals, California sea lions, harbor seals,
Northern elephant seals (Mirounga
angustirostris), and Killer whales
(Orcinus orca) may be disturbed
incidental to this research. In
conjunction with branding conducted
by other permit holders the NPUMMRC
would also conduct a 2–year study to
assess pain and distress associated with
hot-branding of Steller sea lions. The
study would use 96 pups per year and
follow a 2 x2 design: with and without
branding, and with and without a postoperative non-steroidal antiinflammatory analgesic. Pain response
would be measured using respiration
rate, cortisol concentrations, body
temperature, blood pressure, and using
behavioral elements including
movements and vocalizations.
File No. 1118–1881: The Aleut
Community of St. Paul Island, Tribal
Government, Ecosystem Conservation
Office, St. Paul Island, Alaska, requests
a 5–year permit to fulfill their
Biosampling, Disentanglement, and
Island Sentinel program responsibilities
as established under the co-management
agreement between NMFS and the Aleut
Community. The Aleut Community of
St. Paul Island requests authorization
for incidental disturbance of up to 550
northern fur seals per year during the
collection of biological samples from
dead stranded and subsistence hunted
marine mammals. These samples would
be exported to researchers studying the
decline of northern fur seals. Up to
6,500 northern fur seals may be
disturbed during disentanglement
events. The Island Sentinel program
may result in the disturbance of up to
3,400 northern fur seals per year during
haulout and rookery observations,
monitoring, and remote camera
maintenance. Steller sea lions and
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harbor seals may be disturbed during
the course of any of these activities.
File No. 1119–1882: The Aleut
Community of St. George Island, St.
George Traditional Council, St. George
Island, Alaska, requests a 5–year permit
to fulfill their Biosampling,
Disentanglement, and Island Sentinel
program responsibilities as established
under the co-management agreement
between NMFS and the Aleut
Community. The Aleut Community of
St. George Island requests authorization
for incidental disturbance of up to 450
northern fur seals per year during the
collection of biological samples from
dead stranded and subsistence hunted
marine mammals. These samples would
be exported to researchers studying the
decline of northern fur seals. Up to
5,250 northern fur seals may be
disturbed during disentanglement
events. The Island Sentinel program
may result in the disturbance of up to
3,400 northern fur seals per year during
haulout and rookery observations,
monitoring, and remote camera
maintenance. Steller sea lions and
harbor seals may be disturbed during
the course of any of these activities.
File No. 881–1745: The ASLC requests
a 5–year amendment to Permit No. 881–
1745 to breed captive Steller sea lions
at the ASLC, to produce up to four pups,
and conduct studies related to gestation,
lactation, and pup growth and
development. Permit No. 881–1745,
issued March 16, 2006 (59 FR 15387),
currently allows studies on three adult
(one male, two female) captive Steller
sea lions held by the ASLC to
investigate stress responses, endocrine
and immune system function, and
seasonal variations in normal biological
parameters such as mass and body
composition, and conduct of ’research
and development’ of external tags and
attachments for future deployment on
free-ranging animals. The purpose of the
proposed amendment is to assess
physical, metabolic, hormonal, and
immunological changes related to
gestation, lactation, and pup growth and
development. The breeding part of this
study may require the transfer of
additional captive adult Steller sea lions
from facilities in the U.S., or import
from facilities in Canada. Offspring
produced would be held at the ASLC for
long-term physiological studies, or be
transferred or exported to other facilities
for permanent holding. During gestation
the adult animals would be subject to
currently permitted sampling
procedures, with additional studyspecific testing on the samples
themselves. Milk samples would be
collected from adult females. Offspring
produced would be subject to sedation,
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anesthesia, physical restraint,
morphometric measurements, metabolic
measurements, collection of urine and
feces, blood sampling, and audio and
visual recordings (e.g., audio,
photographic, video, digital, thermal,
radiographic). Offspring would be
trained to encourage voluntarily
participation in research activities to
minimize the use of physical restraint,
sedatives, or anesthetics during
sampling. The ASLC requests one
research-related mortality of any liveborn Steller sea lion during the
proposed study. The ASLC proposes
that stillborn or spontaneously aborted
pups not be considered related to the
study or counted against any mortality
allowance in their permit.
NMFS is preparing a Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)
for Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur
Seal Research to evaluate the potential
environmental impacts of awarding
grants and issuing permits to facilitate
research on these species. Information
about the PEIS is available at https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/
steller.htm.
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.
Documents may be reviewed in the
following locations:
All Files: Permits, Conservation and
Education Division, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West
Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring,
MD 20910; phone (301)713–2289; fax
(301)427–2521; https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
review.htm;
File Nos. 782–1889 and 434–1892:
Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand
Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1,
Seattle, WA 98115–0700; phone
(206)526–6150; fax (206)526–6426;
All Files except 434–1892: Alaska
Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802–1668; phone (907)586–7221;
fax (907)586–7249; and
File Nos 782–1889 and 434–1892:
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach,
CA 90802–4213; phone (562)980–4001;
fax (562)980–4018.
Dated: February 12, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
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COORDINATING COUNCIL ON
JUVENILE JUSTICE AND
DELINQUENCY PREVENTION
Leader, and the President of the United
States.
[OJP (OJJDP) Docket No. 1465]
The agenda for this meeting will
include: (a) Report from the Council’s
working groups; (b) a panel and
discussion about recovery in the Gulf
States, the nexus between the education
and juvenile justice systems, and
implications for the federal agencies; (c)
legislative, program and agency updates;
and (d) other business and
announcements.
Meeting of the Coordinating Council
on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention
Coordinating Council on
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Coordinating Council on
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention (Council) is announcing its
March 2, 2007 meeting.
DATES: Friday, March 2, 2007, 9 a.m. to
12 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place
at the U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202 in the Barnard
Auditorium.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robin Delany-Shabazz, Designated
Federal Official, by telephone at 202–
307–9963 [Note: this is not a toll-free
telephone number], or by e-mail at
Robin.Delany-Shabazz@usdoj.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Coordinating Council on Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention,
established pursuant to Section 3(2)A of
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App. 2) will meet to carry out its
advisory functions under Section 206 of
the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention Act of 2002, 42 U.S.C. 5601,
et seq. Documents such as meeting
announcements, agendas, minutes, and
interim and final reports will be
available on the Council’s Web page at
www.JuvenileCouncil.gov. (You may
also verify the status of the meeting at
that web address.)
Although designated agency
representatives may attend, the Council
membership is composed of the
Attorney General (Chair), the Secretary
of Health and Human Services, the
Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of
Education, the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development, the Administrator
of the Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention (Vice Chair),
the Director of the Office of National
Drug Control Policy, the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation for National
and Community Service, and the
Assistant Secretary of Homeland
Security for U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement. Up to nine
additional members are appointed by
the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Senate Majority
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Meeting Agenda
Registration
For security purposes, members of the
public who wish to attend the meeting
must pre-register online at https://
www.juvenilecouncil.gov/ or by fax to:
301–945–4295 [Daryel Dunston at 240–
221–4343 or e-mail,
ddunston@edjassociates.com for
questions], no later than Wednesday,
February 28, 2007. [Note: these are not
toll-free telephone numbers.] Additional
identification documents may be
required. Space is limited.
Note: Photo identification will be required
for admission to the meeting.
Written Comments
Interested parties may submit written
comments by Wednesday, February 28,
2007, to Robin Delany-Shabazz,
Designated Federal Official for the
Coordinating Council on Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention, at
Robin.Delany-Shabazz@usdoj.gov. The
Coordinating Council on Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention
expects that the public statements
presented will not repeat previously
submitted statements. Written questions
and comments from the public may be
invited at this meeting.
J. Robert Flores,
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention.
[FR Doc. E7–2660 Filed 2–14–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–18–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Department of Defense Task Force on
the Future of the Military Health Care
Office of the Assistant
Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs);
DoD
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act of 1972, as
amended (5 U.S.C., Appendix) and the
E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM
15FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 31 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7420-7423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2689]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 020907C]
Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit Applications
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that: seven applications have been
received for permits to conduct research on free-ranging threatened and
endangered Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in California,
Washington, Oregon, and Alaska; five applications have been received
for permits to conduct research on free-ranging northern fur seals
(Callorhinus ursinus) in Alaska; and one application has been received
for an amendment to a permit for activities with captive Steller sea
lions in Alaska.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before April 2, 2007.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review upon written request or by appointment in the following
office(s): See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these
applications should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons
why a hearing on the particular request(s) would be appropriate.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427-2521,
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for
providing e-mail comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include the
appropriate File Number(s) in the subject line of the e-mail comment as
a document identifier.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams, Amy Sloan, Kate Swails,
or Jaclyn Daly, (301)713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits for research on Steller
sea lions are requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), 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.), and the regulations governing the taking,
importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR
222-226). The subject permits for research on northern fur seals are
requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of
1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations
governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216),
and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
File No. 782-1889: The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML),
NMFS, Seattle, Washington, requests a 5-year permit to measure Steller
sea lion population status, vital rates, foraging behavior, and
condition in North Pacific Ocean areas including California,
Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Annually in the western Distinct
Population Segment (DPS), up to 73,000 sea lions may be exposed to
aerial surveys, 27,000 to rookery-based activities, and 23,000 to
incidental activities. Up to 1,280 could be captured annually, with up
to 630 having blood, skin and swab samples collected, 580 hot-branded,
and up to 180 blubber and lesion biopsied, tooth and vibrissa removed,
be ultrasonically imaged, and subject to stomach intubation or enema.
Instruments may be attached on up to 280 per year, and 880 per year may
receive a non-permanent tag or mark. Annually in the eastern DPS, up to
26,000 may be exposed to aerial surveys, and 5,000 to incidental
activities. Up to 12 could be captured per year, and have blood, skin,
blubber, fecal, and culture samples collected, a tooth and vibrissa
removed, hot-brand, tag or non-permanent mark applied, and have an
instrument attached. NMML requests authorization for up to 10 research-
related mortalities of Steller sea lions per year (not to exceed 5 per
year in the western DPS). Up to 5,000 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina
richardsi) and 15,000 northern fur seals may be disturbed per year
incidental to activities in Alaska. Up to 3,000 California sea lions
(Zalophus californianus) and 200 harbor seals may be incidentally
disturbed per year along the U.S. west coast.
File No. 358-1888: The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G),
Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, Alaska, requests a 5-year
permit to continue investigating the various hypotheses for the decline
or lack of recovery of Steller sea lions in Alaska. The research covers
a variety of activities including incidental disturbance during aerial
surveys (up to 20,000 individuals per year in the eastern DPS),
disturbance of animals on rookeries and haulouts during brand
resighting surveys (up to 25,000 individuals annually in the eastern
DPS and up to 5,000 individuals annually in the western DPS), and
incidental to scat collection, capture for instrument attachment,
physiological research and sample collection (up to15,000 individuals
in the eastern DPS and 2,000 in the western DPS per year). Up
[[Page 7421]]
to 800 pups would be hot branded per year for long-term demographic and
distribution studies. Up to 280 older animals would be captured per
year for physiological assessment, with attachment of scientific
instruments to investigate foraging ecology and diving behavior on up
to 95 per year. ADF&G requests authorization for up to 10 research-
related mortalities of Steller sea lions per year (not to exceed 5 per
year in the western DPS). Harbor seals, northern fur seals, and
California sea lions may be disturbed incidentally during the course of
this research due to proximity of isolated individuals to the Steller
sea lion study area. Field work will take place during all seasons of
the year and throughout the range of Steller sea lions in Alaska (both
eastern and western DPS).
File No. 881-1893: The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), Seward,
Alaska, requests a 5-year permit to characterize the movements,
foraging behavior and habitat-associations of northern fur seal pups
during their first winter at sea. ASLC proposes to capture and
instrument up to 50 northern fur seal pups annually on the Pribilof
Islands and Bogoslof Island. Once captured, pups would be physically
restrained and sedated for: blood sampling; measurements of body
composition (isotope dilution, bioelectric impedance analysis, and
ultrasonic imaging of blubber); taking skin, blubber, and muscle
biopsies; collecting fecal loops and culture swabs; collecting
vibrissae, hair and nails; attachment of flipper tags and marking fur
temporarily; and attachment of scientific instruments and placement of
internal stomach temperature transmitters. Up to 200 northern fur seals
may be captured at sea in the North Pacific and subject to the same
list of procedures as above, with the addition that adult females would
undergo ultrasonography of the reproductive tract to determine
pregnancy. Up to 5,000 fur seals of either sex and any age may be
disturbed annually during approaches to the rookery to capture pups, to
read flipper tags, and to check previously attached equipment for
damage. When possible, fur seals returning to their natal island would
be recaptured in subsequent years to remove instruments and to repeat
blood collection and measurements of body composition. The ASLC
requests authorization for up to four research-related mortalities of
fur seals per year.
File No. 881-1890: The ASLC requests a 5-year permit to conduct
population monitoring and studies on health, nutrition, and foraging
behavior of free ranging and temporarily captive Steller sea lions.
Research would occur in the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands and
at the ASLC. The purposes of this research are to provide data on pup
and juvenile survival, reproductive rates, diet, epidemiology,
endocrinology, immunology, virology, physiology, ontogenetic and annual
body condition cycles, foraging behavior, and habitat selection.
Individuals may be taken by disturbance associated with capture, remote
video studies, scat and carcass collection, and mark resighting (14,000
animals annually); capture, restraint and sampling (610 animals
annually); and temporary captivity at ASLC with life history
transmitter implantation (30 animals annually). Annually, captured sea
lions (640 including those in temporary captivity) will undergo
morphometrics measurements, blood and tissue collection, digital
imaging, hot-branding, scientific instrument attachment, body condition
measurement, whisker sampling, metabolic rate measurement, temporary
marking, and x-ray exams. The ASLC requests authorization for up to
seven research-related mortalities of Steller sea lions per year. The
ASLC also requests authorization to collect an unlimited number of
carcasses and hard and soft parts of dead Steller sea lions.
File No. 434-1892: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(ODFW), Corvallis, Oregon, requests a 5-year permit to continue to
assess status and monitor trend in Steller sea lion abundance, ecology,
and vital rates in the southern extent of the Steller sea lion eastern
DPS. Research would occur throughout California, Oregon, and Washington
and cover a variety of activities. These activities include incidental
disturbance to animals during aerial surveys (500 pups and 1,000 older
animals per year), grounds counts and incidental scat collection (2,000
pups and 4,000 older animals per year), as well as captures, sampling,
behavioral observations, and monitoring (up to10,000 animals per year).
ODFW also proposes to capture and sedate (physically or chemically) up
to 200 pups and 10 adults annually for measuring, skin biopsying,
flipper tagging or other marking, and hot-branding. In addition to the
procedures above, 50 pups and 10 adults annually would have fecal loops
and culture swabs collected and 80 pups and 10 adults per year would
have scientific instruments attached. ODFW requests authorization for
up to 10 research-related mortalities of Steller sea lions per year. Up
to 1,000 harbor seals and 5,000 California sea lions may be disturbed
annually incidental to this research.
File No. 1049-1886: Kate Wynne, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
Kodiak, Alaska, requests a 5-year permit to continue studies on the
abundance, distribution, and diet of the western DPS of Steller sea
lions. Authority is requested to harass animals for aerial surveys
(13,000 individuals per year), scat collection (2,000 individuals per
year), and land-based (500 individuals per year) and vessel-based
(1,000 individuals per year) brand re-sighting activities. Activities
would take place throughout the year; however, rookeries would not be
approached in June to minimize disturbance during breeding and pupping
season. Research would occur in the western and central Gulf of Alaska.
File No. 1034-1887: Dr. Markus Horning, Oregon State University,
Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon, requests a 5-year
permit to study condition and health status of juvenile Steller sea
lions in the western DPS; and, using satellite-linked Life History
Transmitters (LHX), will estimate survival rates, and obtain long-term
data on foraging effort and causes of mortality. Over five years, up to
140 juvenile Steller sea lions will be captured, anesthetized, handled
and sampled (morphometrics; 3-D photographic imaging; X-ray imaging;
ultrasound; deuterium oxide administration; blood, whisker, hair, claw,
blubber, and skin sample collections; mucosal swabs; naturally excreted
feces), flipper tagged or hot-branded, and external instruments
applied. Of those animals, 100 will additionally have internal LHX
transmitters surgically implanted. Researchers would implant up to 50
carcasses with the LHX transmitters to assess the effect of the non-
independence of two paired tags on the calculation of correction
factors. Dr. Horning requests authorization for up to 15 research-
related mortalities over five years, not to exceed five in any one
year. Dr. Horning also proposes to install remote imaging systems for
3-D photogrammetry at locations in Alaska and Oregon to census animals
and monitor body mass, condition, and health trends. Up to 10,500
Steller sea lions may be harassed annually during capture and other
activities. California sea lions, harbor seals, and northern elephant
seals may also be harassed incidental to activities with Steller sea
lions.
File No. 715-1883: The North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal
Research Consortium (NPUMMRC), University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, B.C.,
[[Page 7422]]
requests a 5-year permit to conduct physiological studies on captive
northern fur seals to test the hypothesis that changes in food supply
or environmental conditions are inducing a state of nutritional stress
that is causing changes in survival or reproductive success. Up to 32
fur seal pups from St. Paul Island, AK, would be captured, restrained,
and gender determined. Of those 32, up to 16 female pups would have
blood samples taken and a veterinary heath exam performed. Of those 16,
up to eight pups would be held in temporary enclosures for up to seven
days for further health testing (blood sampling, physical exams). Of
those eight, six female pups would be transported to the Vancouver
Aquarium, Canada, for long-term physiological and nutritional research.
During capture operations, up to 185 fur seals may be incidentally
disturbed. The NPUMMRC requests up to one research-related mortality
over the duration of the permit. While the actual captures will occur
in a single year, the NPUMMRC has requested a 5-year permit to allow
for flexibility in logistical coordination of the captures.
File No. 715-1884: The NPUMMRC requests a 5-year permit to continue
to study the distribution, life history, physiology, and foraging and
behavioral ecology of northern fur seals on the Pribilof Islands and
Bogoslof Island. Research activities would occur from July to October,
annually, and involve harassment of animals for capture, measuring,
flipper tagging, coded wire tagging, and blood, skin, blubber and
vibrissae sampling (200 pups and 200 older animals per year). The pups
would also be injected with tetracycline and be recaptured for age
determination. Older animals would also be anesthetized and have a
single post-canine tooth removed for aging. The NPUMMRC also requests
to capture, measure, and attach scientific instruments to no more than
30 lactating females annually. An additional five lactating females per
year would be processed as above; however, they would not have
scientific instruments attached. Incidental disturbance of up to 1,800
pups and 775 older northern fur seals annually, and 100 Steller sea
lions per year is requested. The NPUMMRC requests authorization for up
to 10 research-related mortalities of northern fur seals per year. The
NPUMMRC would also collect measurements, jaw bones, and teeth from
subsistence hunted animals to assess body size and annual growth
increments of northern fur seals.
File No. 715-1885: The NPUMMRC requests a 5-year permit to continue
a long-term research program to test various hypotheses for the decline
of Steller sea lions in Alaska. The research would result in
disturbance of Steller sea lions by the following activities:
behavioral and demographic observations (up to 10,000 individuals in
the western DPS and 5,000 in the eastern DPS per year), scat collection
(up to 40,000 individuals in the western DPS and 15,000 in the eastern
DPS per year), collection of carcasses or parts of carcasses (up to
40,000 individuals in the western DPS and 15,000 in the eastern DPS per
year), and aerial/boat surveys and camera maintenance (up to 10,000
individuals in the western DPS and 5,000 in the eastern DPS per year).
NPUMMRC requests authorization for up to four research-related
mortalities of Steller sea lions per year. Northern fur seals,
California sea lions, harbor seals, Northern elephant seals (Mirounga
angustirostris), and Killer whales (Orcinus orca) may be disturbed
incidental to this research. In conjunction with branding conducted by
other permit holders the NPUMMRC would also conduct a 2-year study to
assess pain and distress associated with hot-branding of Steller sea
lions. The study would use 96 pups per year and follow a 2 x2 design:
with and without branding, and with and without a post-operative non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic. Pain response would be measured
using respiration rate, cortisol concentrations, body temperature,
blood pressure, and using behavioral elements including movements and
vocalizations.
File No. 1118-1881: The Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, Tribal
Government, Ecosystem Conservation Office, St. Paul Island, Alaska,
requests a 5-year permit to fulfill their Biosampling, Disentanglement,
and Island Sentinel program responsibilities as established under the
co-management agreement between NMFS and the Aleut Community. The Aleut
Community of St. Paul Island requests authorization for incidental
disturbance of up to 550 northern fur seals per year during the
collection of biological samples from dead stranded and subsistence
hunted marine mammals. These samples would be exported to researchers
studying the decline of northern fur seals. Up to 6,500 northern fur
seals may be disturbed during disentanglement events. The Island
Sentinel program may result in the disturbance of up to 3,400 northern
fur seals per year during haulout and rookery observations, monitoring,
and remote camera maintenance. Steller sea lions and harbor seals may
be disturbed during the course of any of these activities.
File No. 1119-1882: The Aleut Community of St. George Island, St.
George Traditional Council, St. George Island, Alaska, requests a 5-
year permit to fulfill their Biosampling, Disentanglement, and Island
Sentinel program responsibilities as established under the co-
management agreement between NMFS and the Aleut Community. The Aleut
Community of St. George Island requests authorization for incidental
disturbance of up to 450 northern fur seals per year during the
collection of biological samples from dead stranded and subsistence
hunted marine mammals. These samples would be exported to researchers
studying the decline of northern fur seals. Up to 5,250 northern fur
seals may be disturbed during disentanglement events. The Island
Sentinel program may result in the disturbance of up to 3,400 northern
fur seals per year during haulout and rookery observations, monitoring,
and remote camera maintenance. Steller sea lions and harbor seals may
be disturbed during the course of any of these activities.
File No. 881-1745: The ASLC requests a 5-year amendment to Permit
No. 881-1745 to breed captive Steller sea lions at the ASLC, to produce
up to four pups, and conduct studies related to gestation, lactation,
and pup growth and development. Permit No. 881-1745, issued March 16,
2006 (59 FR 15387), currently allows studies on three adult (one male,
two female) captive Steller sea lions held by the ASLC to investigate
stress responses, endocrine and immune system function, and seasonal
variations in normal biological parameters such as mass and body
composition, and conduct of 'research and development' of external tags
and attachments for future deployment on free-ranging animals. The
purpose of the proposed amendment is to assess physical, metabolic,
hormonal, and immunological changes related to gestation, lactation,
and pup growth and development. The breeding part of this study may
require the transfer of additional captive adult Steller sea lions from
facilities in the U.S., or import from facilities in Canada. Offspring
produced would be held at the ASLC for long-term physiological studies,
or be transferred or exported to other facilities for permanent
holding. During gestation the adult animals would be subject to
currently permitted sampling procedures, with additional study-specific
testing on the samples themselves. Milk samples would be collected from
adult females. Offspring produced would be subject to sedation,
[[Page 7423]]
anesthesia, physical restraint, morphometric measurements, metabolic
measurements, collection of urine and feces, blood sampling, and audio
and visual recordings (e.g., audio, photographic, video, digital,
thermal, radiographic). Offspring would be trained to encourage
voluntarily participation in research activities to minimize the use of
physical restraint, sedatives, or anesthetics during sampling. The ASLC
requests one research-related mortality of any live-born Steller sea
lion during the proposed study. The ASLC proposes that stillborn or
spontaneously aborted pups not be considered related to the study or
counted against any mortality allowance in their permit.
NMFS is preparing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
(PEIS) for Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research to evaluate
the potential environmental impacts of awarding grants and issuing
permits to facilitate research on these species. Information about the
PEIS is available at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/
steller.htm.
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.
Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
All Files: Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver
Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/review.htm;
File Nos. 782-1889 and 434-1892: Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand
Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone
(206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426;
All Files except 434-1892: Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668,
Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249; and
File Nos 782-1889 and 434-1892: Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-
4001; fax (562)980-4018.
Dated: February 12, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-2689 Filed 2-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
