Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14324 through 14337, except 14333, 22518-22520 [E9-11198]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 91 / Wednesday, May 13, 2009 / Notices
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
in the subject line of the e-mail
comment the following document
identifier: File No. 14381.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: May 6, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–11190 Filed 5–12–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XP18
Patrick Opay or Kate Swails, (301) 713–
2289.
Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14324
through 14337, except 14333
The
subject permit is requested under the
authority of 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 research would collect scientific
data on sea turtles incidentally captured
in the Hawaii Deep-Set Longline
Fishery, the Hawaii Shallow-Set
Longline Fishery, and the American
Samoa Longline Fishery. This data
would assist NMFS efforts to
understand sea turtle interactions with
the fisheries and to mitigate their threat
to these species. The applicant proposes
to flipper tag, measure, photograph,
tissue sample, and attach satellite tags to
an anticipated annual take of up to 46
loggerhead, 16 leatherback, one green,
and four olive ridley sea turtles
captured in the Hawaii Deep-Set
Longline Fishery. The applicant
proposes to flipper tag, measure,
photograph, tissue sample, and attach
satellite tags to an anticipated annual
take of up to six loggerhead, one
leatherback, six green, six olive ridley,
and six hawksbill sea turtles captured in
the American Samoa Longline Fishery.
The applicant proposes to flipper tag,
measure, photograph, tissue sample,
and attach satellite tags to an
anticipated annual take of up to six (18
over three years) loggerhead, 13 (39 over
three years) leatherback, seven (21 over
three years) green, and 41 (123 over
three years) olive ridley sea turtles
captured in the Hawaii Shallow-Set
Longline Fishery. The research would
occur in the Pacific Ocean through April
1, 2015. No mortalities are expected
from the research. Researchers would
also collect sea turtle carcasses of
animals killed in fishery activities that
occur in the Pacific Ocean.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the following institutions, organizations,
and individuals have applied for
permits to conduct research on Steller
sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and
northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus):
Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), Seward,
AK; Alaska Department of Fish and
Game (ADF&G), Division of Wildlife
Conservation, Juneau, Alaska; NMFS
National Marine Mammal Laboratory
(NMML), Seattle, WA; North Pacific
Universities Marine Mammal Research
Consortium (NPUMMRC), University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.,
Canada; Aleut Community of St. Paul
Island (ACSPI), Tribal Government,
Ecosystem Conservation Office, St. Paul
Island, AK; Aleut Community of St.
George Island (ACSGI), St. George
Traditional Council, St. George Island,
AK; and Markus Horning, Ph.D., Marine
Mammal Institute, Oregon State
University, Newport, OR.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail
comments must be received on or before
June 29, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The applications and
related documents are available for
review by selecting ‘‘Records Open for
Public Comment’’ from the Features box
on the Applications and Permits for
Protected Species (APPS) home page,
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then
selecting the applicable File No. from
the list of available applications.
These documents are also available
upon written request or by appointment
in the following office(s):
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;
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Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand
Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1,
Seattle, WA 98115–0700; phone (206)
526–6150; fax (206) 526–6426;
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box
21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668; phone
(907) 586–7221; fax (907) 586–7249; and
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach,
CA 90802–4213; phone (562) 980–4001;
fax (562) 980–4018.
Written comments on these
applications should be mailed to the
Chief, Permits, Conservation and
Education Division at the address listed
above. Comments may also be submitted
by facsimile to (301) 427–2521, or by
email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please
include the applicable File No. in the
subject line of the e-mail comment.
Those individuals requesting a public
hearing should submit a written request
to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and
Education Division at the address listed
above. The request should set forth the
specific reasons why a hearing on a
particular application would be
appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tammy Adams, Kate Swails, or Amy
Sloan, (301) 713–2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject permits 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.), the regulations governing the
taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50
CFR 222–226), and the Fur Seal Act of
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et
seq.). The following are brief summaries
of the applications. For details, please
review the actual permit applications,
available on-line or by written request
(see ADDRESSES).
File No. 14324: The applicant, ASLC,
(Principal Investigator: John
Maniscalco), requests a five-year permit
to investigate causes for the Steller sea
lion population decline and determine
what is currently limiting its recovery.
Research would involve (maximum
number of animals per year in
parentheses): disturbance associated
with capture, observational studies, and
material/scat/carcass collection (8,500);
capture, restraint, and sampling (200);
and remote biopsy (150). Captured sea
lions would undergo morphometrics
measurement; blood and tissue
collection; digital imaging; hotbranding; body condition measurement;
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 91 / Wednesday, May 13, 2009 / Notices
whisker, hair, and milk sampling;
temporary marking; and ultrasound
exams. Research would occur in the
Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands, on
Steller sea lions of the western Distinct
Population Segment (DPS). The
applicant also requests authorization for
annual unintentional mortality of 1
Steller sea lion from the western DPS.
File No. 14325: The applicant,
ADF&G, (Principal Investigator: Lorrie
Rea, Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit
to continue a long-term research
program investigating the various
hypotheses for the decline or lack of
recovery of Steller sea lions in AK.
Research would involve (maximum
number of animals per year in
parentheses): incidental disturbance
during aerial surveys (20,000 eastern
DPS); disturbance of animals on
rookeries and haulouts during brand
resighting surveys (30,000 eastern DPS,
8,000 western DPS) and incidental to
scat collection, capture for instrument
attachment, capture for branding,
capture method development,
physiological research and sample
collection (83,700 eastern DPS, and
8,700 western DPS); permanent marking
of pups for long-term demographic and
distribution studies (800), capture of
older animals (20 western DPS, 60
eastern DPS) for physiological
assessment and attachment of scientific
instruments to investigate foraging
ecology, diving behavior and habitat
use. An additional 200 animals of any
age may be instrumented without
capture (150 eastern DPS, 50 western
DPS). The applicant also requests
authorization for annual unintentional
mortality of 5 Steller sea lions from the
western DPS and 10 Steller sea lions
from the eastern DPS. Harbor seals
(Phoca vitulina richardsi), northern fur
seals, and California sea lions (Zalophus
californianus) may be disturbed
incidentally during the course of this
research
File No. 14326: The applicant,
NMML, (Principal Investigator: Tom
Gelatt, Ph.D.), requests a five-year
permit to measure population status,
vital rates, foraging ecology, habitat
requirements, and effects of natural and
anthropogenic factors for Steller sea lion
in the North Pacific Ocean, including
rookeries and haulouts in CA, OR, WA,
and AK. Annually in the western DPS,
up to 59,500 sea lions may be exposed
to aerial surveys, 1,000–6,520 to
rookery-based activities, and 12,700 to
other incidental activities. Up to 600
Steller sea lions could be captured, with
up to 190 having blood, skin, and swab
samples collected, 250 hot-branded, and
up to 50 blubber and lesion biopsied,
vibrissa removed, and subject to
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stomach intubation. Instruments would
be attached on up to 50, and 50 would
receive a non-permanent mark if not
hot-branded. Annually in the eastern
DPS, up to 27,800 may be exposed to
aerial surveys, and 13,100 to incidental
activities. Up to 220 could be captured,
and have blood, skin, blubber, fecal, and
culture samples collected, a vibrissa
removed, hot-brand, tag or nonpermanent mark applied, and have an
instrument attached. Non-target species
that may be harassed incidental to
Steller sea lion research include
northern fur seals in AK, California sea
lions and northern elephant seals
(Mirounga angustrirostris) in WA, OR,
and CA, and harbor seals (P. vitulina) in
all states.
File No. 14327: The applicant,
NMML, (Principal Investigator: Rolf
Ream, Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit
to investigate population status and
trends, demographic parameters, health
and condition, and foraging ecology of
northern fur seals in U.S. waters,
including rookeries and haulouts in CA
and AK. Research on the San Miguel
Island stock would involve (maximum
number of animals per year in
parentheses): capture, restraint, and
sampling (700) and incidental
disturbance (35,725). Research on the
Eastern Pacific stock would involve
(maximum number of animals per year
in parentheses): capture, restraint and
sampling (22,820 in 3 of 5 years; 9,320
in 2 of 5 years) and incidental
disturbance (355,125 in 3 of 5 years;
156,000 in 2 of 5 years). The applicant
requests authorization for researchrelated mortality of 7 animals per year
from the San Miguel Island Stock and
11 animals per year from the Eastern
Pacific stock. The applicant also
requests authorization for incidental
harassment of 150 western DPS Steller
sea lions and 18,700 California sea lions
annually.
File No. 14328: The applicant, ASLC,
(Principal Investigator: Alan Springer,
Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit to
characterize the winter habitat,
movement patterns, diets and general
health of adult male northern fur seals
in the Bering Sea and northern North
Pacific Ocean. Annually, up to 5
animals in AK would be captured,
satellite tagged, blubber biopsied, blood
sampled, and a vibrissa would be pulled
for stable isotope analysis. Up to 200
northern fur seals in AK may be
incidentally harassed during the
research activities. The applicant
requests authorization for 1 researchrelated mortality per year.
File No. 14329: The applicant,
NPUMMRC, (Principal Investigator:
Andrew Trites, Ph.D.) requests a five-
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22519
year permit to test hypotheses that
might explain the decline of northern
fur seals in AK and offer solutions for
recovery. The proposed research
includes studies on foraging ecology,
demographics, behavior, and changes in
body size. The applicant also proposes
to complete a pilot study to determine
the feasibility of branding as a viable
marking method. Research activities
would involve (maximum number of
animals per year in parentheses):
disturbance associated with capture,
observational studies, and scat
collection (39,130); and capture,
restraint, tissue sampling, and marking
(2,335). NPUMMRC requests
authorization for the annual researchrelated mortality of 14 adult females, 8
juvenile males, and 24 pups.
NPUMMRC also requests authorization
for harassment of 600 western DPS
Steller sea lions annually incidental to
the research.
File No. 14330 and File No. 14331:
The applicants, ACSPI (File No. 14330),
(Principal Investigator: Phillip A.
Zavadil), and ACSGI (File No. 14331),
(Principal Investigator: Chris Merculief),
request five-year permits to fulfill their
Biosampling, Disentanglement, and
Island Sentinel program responsibilities
as established under the co-management
agreement between NMFS and the Aleut
Communities. Work by ACSPI would
occur on St. Paul Island, AK and work
by ACSGI would occur on St. George
Island, AK. The applicants request
authorization for incidental disturbance
of up to 850 northern fur seals on St.
Paul Island and 450 animals per year on
St. George Island 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. Annually,
up to 8,500 northern fur seals on St.
Paul Island and 6,050 on St. George
Island 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 on St. Paul Island and
9,000 animals on St. George Island
during haulout and rookery
observations, monitoring, and remote
camera maintenance per year. Steller
sea lions and harbor seals may be
disturbed during the course of these
activities.
File No. 14334: The applicant, ASLC,
(Principal Investigator: Lori Polasek,
Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit to
investigate reproductive physiology of
captive adult Steller sea lions
(permanently captive eastern stock) and
survival, growth, and physiology of
captive-bred offspring. ASLC also
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 91 / Wednesday, May 13, 2009 / Notices
proposes to deploy biotelemetry
instruments on the captives to develop
and validate methods for monitoring
wild Steller sea lions. Research would
be conducted on one adult male, up to
four adult females, and up to six
offspring, and would include the
following activities: mass and
morphometric measurements;
ultrasound; capture, sedation, and
anesthesia; blood sampling and
administration of Evan’s blue dye and
deuterium oxide; feces, urine, semen,
and milk collection; video/audio
recordings; genital swabs; radiographs;
dietary supplements; blubber biopsy;
and attachment of biotelemetry
instrumentation. ASLC also requests
authorization to transfer to and import
from approved North American
facilities up to two male and four female
Steller sea lions, not to exceed 11
animals held at ASLC for use in
research. ASLC requests up to two
research-related mortalities over the
course of the permit. No research would
occur on wild populations or affect nontarget species.
File No. 14335: The applicant, ASLC,
(Principal Investigator: JoAnn Mellish,
Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit to
investigate the decline of the western
stock of Steller sea lions and its failure
to recover, and to assist recovery efforts.
Data would be obtained on juvenile
survival, epidemiology, endocrinology,
immunology, virology, physiology,
ontogenetic and annual body condition
cycles, foraging behavior and habitat
selection. Up to 20 pups (8–11 months)
and 32 juveniles (12–48 months) of both
sexes may be captured per year, with a
subset of up to 12 juveniles (12- 48
months) of both sexes selected for
temporary quarantine captivity at the
South Beach facility at the ASLC.
Research activities would include
capture/handle/release (floating trap,
underwater lasso), drug administration
(IM, IV, oral, subcutaneous, topical),
anesthesia, temporary captivity, fecal
and urine collection, instrument
attachment (external and internal),
marking, measuring, behavioral
observations, photogrammetry, restraint,
sampling (blood, blubber biopsy, clip
hair, fecal swab, blubber and muscle
biopsy, nasal swab, oral swab, skin
biopsy, vibrissae pull, stable isotopes
and serial blood samples), transport,
ultrasound, unintentional mortality,
weigh and x-ray. Up to 3,500
individuals of all ages, either sex, may
be incidentally harassed annually. Two
research-related mortalities per year are
requested. The location of activities
would include the Gulf of Alaska and
the ASLC.
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File No. 14336: The applicant, Dr.
Horning, requests a five-year permit to
determine survival rates, emigration,
causes of mortality, predation, and
collect long-term forage effort data, in
juvenile eastern DPS sea lions, using
surgically implanted scientific
instruments called Life History
Transmitters (LHX tags). Up to 50 pups
and 50 juveniles of both sexes would be
captured for sampling and LHX tag
deployment at Hazy Islands and in
Frederick Sound, AK annually (100
animals total per age class). LHX tags
would also be opportunistically
deployed in carcasses of dead Steller sea
lions in AK, OR, and CA, and in
California sea lions in OR and CA to
assess uplink failure rates. Remote
monitoring (using still, video, and
infrared cameras) for censusing, brand
re-sighting, attendance patterns, and
estimating body mass, condition and
health trends would be conducted at
Long Island, AK and Sea Lion Caves and
Cascade Head, OR. Up to 900
individuals of all ages and either sex in
the western DPS and 8,800 in the
eastern DPS of all ages may be
incidentally harassed annually. The
applicant also requests authorization for
5 research-related mortalities of eastern
DPS animals per year.
File No. 14337: The applicant,
NPUMMRC, (Principal Investigator:
Andrew Trites, Ph.D.), requests a fiveyear permit to conduct studies of Steller
sea lion diets, distributions, life history
traits, physiology and the timing of
weaning in AK. NPUMMRC also
proposes to evaluate pain experienced
by Steller sea lions during hot-iron
branding conducted by researchers
operating under separate permits.
Research activities would involve
(maximum number of animals per year
in parentheses): disturbance associated
with capture, observational studies, and
scat collection (10,720 eastern DPS;
28,220 western DPS); and capture,
restraint, tissue sampling, and marking
(126 eastern DPS; 206 western DPS).
NPUMMRC requests authorization for
the annual research-related mortality of
2 eastern DPS pups, 2 western DPS pups
during marking and 4 eastern DPS sea
lions of any age, and 4 western DPS sea
lions of any age during other studies.
NPUMMRC also requests authorization
for harassment of 15 northern fur seals,
5 California sea lions, 10 northern
elephant seals, 60 harbor seals, and 5
killer whales (Orcinus orca) in AK
annually incidental to the research on
Steller sea lions.
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
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activities proposed are consistent with
the Preferred Alternative in the Final
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (PEIS) for Steller Sea Lion
and Northern Fur Seal Research (NMFS
2007), and that issuance of the permits
would not have a significant adverse
impact on the human environment.
As established under the Preferred
Alternative, NMFS proposes to
authorize annual cumulative researchrelated mortality of up to 15 percent of
the Potential Biological Removal levels
for each stock. These annual allowances
would include observed and
unobserved mortalities, and be
calculated based on the nature of the
research. The numbers of researchrelated mortalities permitted may be
higher or lower than those requested by
the applicants.
Concurrent with the publication of
this notice in the Federal Register,
NMFS is forwarding copies of the
applications to the Marine Mammal
Commission and its Committee of
Scientific Advisors.
Dated: May 7, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–11198 Filed 5–12–09; 8:45 am]
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National Institute of Standards and
Technology
Second Smart Grid Interoperability
Standards Interim Roadmap Public
Workshop
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST), United States
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public workshop.
SUMMARY: The National Institute of
Standards and Technology announces
that a free two-day public workshop on
Smart Grid standards will be held on
May 19–20, 2009, in the Washington,
DC area.
DATES: The free public workshop will be
held on May 19 and 20, 2009, from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The free public workshop
will be held in the Washington, DC, area
at the Gaylord National Hotel and
Convention Center, 201 Waterfront
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location and registration information
will be posted at: https://www.nist.gov/
smartgrid/. Those interested in
attending also can call Ashley Eldrege of
the Electric Power Research Institute, on
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22518-22520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11198]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XP18
Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14324 through 14337, except 14333
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following institutions,
organizations, and individuals have applied for permits to conduct
research on Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and northern fur
seals (Callorhinus ursinus): Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), Seward, AK;
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Wildlife
Conservation, Juneau, Alaska; NMFS National Marine Mammal Laboratory
(NMML), Seattle, WA; North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research
Consortium (NPUMMRC), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.,
Canada; Aleut Community of St. Paul Island (ACSPI), Tribal Government,
Ecosystem Conservation Office, St. Paul Island, AK; Aleut Community of
St. George Island (ACSGI), St. George Traditional Council, St. George
Island, AK; and Markus Horning, Ph.D., Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon
State University, Newport, OR.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before June 29, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting the
applicable File No. from the list of available applications.
These documents are also available upon written request or by
appointment in the following office(s):
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;
Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg.
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249; and
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018.
Written comments on these applications should be mailed to the
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division at the address
listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 427-
2521, or by email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include the
applicable File No. in the subject line of the e-mail comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division at the address listed above. The request should set forth the
specific reasons why a hearing on a particular application would be
appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams, Kate Swails, or Amy
Sloan, (301) 713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits 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.), the
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.). The following are
brief summaries of the applications. For details, please review the
actual permit applications, available on-line or by written request
(see ADDRESSES).
File No. 14324: The applicant, ASLC, (Principal Investigator: John
Maniscalco), requests a five-year permit to investigate causes for the
Steller sea lion population decline and determine what is currently
limiting its recovery. Research would involve (maximum number of
animals per year in parentheses): disturbance associated with capture,
observational studies, and material/scat/carcass collection (8,500);
capture, restraint, and sampling (200); and remote biopsy (150).
Captured sea lions would undergo morphometrics measurement; blood and
tissue collection; digital imaging; hot-branding; body condition
measurement;
[[Page 22519]]
whisker, hair, and milk sampling; temporary marking; and ultrasound
exams. Research would occur in the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands,
on Steller sea lions of the western Distinct Population Segment (DPS).
The applicant also requests authorization for annual unintentional
mortality of 1 Steller sea lion from the western DPS.
File No. 14325: The applicant, ADF&G, (Principal Investigator:
Lorrie Rea, Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit to continue a long-term
research program investigating the various hypotheses for the decline
or lack of recovery of Steller sea lions in AK. Research would involve
(maximum number of animals per year in parentheses): incidental
disturbance during aerial surveys (20,000 eastern DPS); disturbance of
animals on rookeries and haulouts during brand resighting surveys
(30,000 eastern DPS, 8,000 western DPS) and incidental to scat
collection, capture for instrument attachment, capture for branding,
capture method development, physiological research and sample
collection (83,700 eastern DPS, and 8,700 western DPS); permanent
marking of pups for long-term demographic and distribution studies
(800), capture of older animals (20 western DPS, 60 eastern DPS) for
physiological assessment and attachment of scientific instruments to
investigate foraging ecology, diving behavior and habitat use. An
additional 200 animals of any age may be instrumented without capture
(150 eastern DPS, 50 western DPS). The applicant also requests
authorization for annual unintentional mortality of 5 Steller sea lions
from the western DPS and 10 Steller sea lions from the eastern DPS.
Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi), northern fur seals, and
California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) may be disturbed
incidentally during the course of this research
File No. 14326: The applicant, NMML, (Principal Investigator: Tom
Gelatt, Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit to measure population
status, vital rates, foraging ecology, habitat requirements, and
effects of natural and anthropogenic factors for Steller sea lion in
the North Pacific Ocean, including rookeries and haulouts in CA, OR,
WA, and AK. Annually in the western DPS, up to 59,500 sea lions may be
exposed to aerial surveys, 1,000-6,520 to rookery-based activities, and
12,700 to other incidental activities. Up to 600 Steller sea lions
could be captured, with up to 190 having blood, skin, and swab samples
collected, 250 hot-branded, and up to 50 blubber and lesion biopsied,
vibrissa removed, and subject to stomach intubation. Instruments would
be attached on up to 50, and 50 would receive a non-permanent mark if
not hot-branded. Annually in the eastern DPS, up to 27,800 may be
exposed to aerial surveys, and 13,100 to incidental activities. Up to
220 could be captured, and have blood, skin, blubber, fecal, and
culture samples collected, a vibrissa removed, hot-brand, tag or non-
permanent mark applied, and have an instrument attached. Non-target
species that may be harassed incidental to Steller sea lion research
include northern fur seals in AK, California sea lions and northern
elephant seals (Mirounga angustrirostris) in WA, OR, and CA, and harbor
seals (P. vitulina) in all states.
File No. 14327: The applicant, NMML, (Principal Investigator: Rolf
Ream, Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit to investigate population
status and trends, demographic parameters, health and condition, and
foraging ecology of northern fur seals in U.S. waters, including
rookeries and haulouts in CA and AK. Research on the San Miguel Island
stock would involve (maximum number of animals per year in
parentheses): capture, restraint, and sampling (700) and incidental
disturbance (35,725). Research on the Eastern Pacific stock would
involve (maximum number of animals per year in parentheses): capture,
restraint and sampling (22,820 in 3 of 5 years; 9,320 in 2 of 5 years)
and incidental disturbance (355,125 in 3 of 5 years; 156,000 in 2 of 5
years). The applicant requests authorization for research-related
mortality of 7 animals per year from the San Miguel Island Stock and 11
animals per year from the Eastern Pacific stock. The applicant also
requests authorization for incidental harassment of 150 western DPS
Steller sea lions and 18,700 California sea lions annually.
File No. 14328: The applicant, ASLC, (Principal Investigator: Alan
Springer, Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit to characterize the
winter habitat, movement patterns, diets and general health of adult
male northern fur seals in the Bering Sea and northern North Pacific
Ocean. Annually, up to 5 animals in AK would be captured, satellite
tagged, blubber biopsied, blood sampled, and a vibrissa would be pulled
for stable isotope analysis. Up to 200 northern fur seals in AK may be
incidentally harassed during the research activities. The applicant
requests authorization for 1 research-related mortality per year.
File No. 14329: The applicant, NPUMMRC, (Principal Investigator:
Andrew Trites, Ph.D.) requests a five-year permit to test hypotheses
that might explain the decline of northern fur seals in AK and offer
solutions for recovery. The proposed research includes studies on
foraging ecology, demographics, behavior, and changes in body size. The
applicant also proposes to complete a pilot study to determine the
feasibility of branding as a viable marking method. Research activities
would involve (maximum number of animals per year in parentheses):
disturbance associated with capture, observational studies, and scat
collection (39,130); and capture, restraint, tissue sampling, and
marking (2,335). NPUMMRC requests authorization for the annual
research-related mortality of 14 adult females, 8 juvenile males, and
24 pups. NPUMMRC also requests authorization for harassment of 600
western DPS Steller sea lions annually incidental to the research.
File No. 14330 and File No. 14331: The applicants, ACSPI (File No.
14330), (Principal Investigator: Phillip A. Zavadil), and ACSGI (File
No. 14331), (Principal Investigator: Chris Merculief), request five-
year permits to fulfill their Biosampling, Disentanglement, and Island
Sentinel program responsibilities as established under the co-
management agreement between NMFS and the Aleut Communities. Work by
ACSPI would occur on St. Paul Island, AK and work by ACSGI would occur
on St. George Island, AK. The applicants request authorization for
incidental disturbance of up to 850 northern fur seals on St. Paul
Island and 450 animals per year on St. George Island 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. Annually, up to 8,500
northern fur seals on St. Paul Island and 6,050 on St. George Island
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 on St. Paul Island and 9,000 animals on St. George Island
during haulout and rookery observations, monitoring, and remote camera
maintenance per year. Steller sea lions and harbor seals may be
disturbed during the course of these activities.
File No. 14334: The applicant, ASLC, (Principal Investigator: Lori
Polasek, Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit to investigate
reproductive physiology of captive adult Steller sea lions (permanently
captive eastern stock) and survival, growth, and physiology of captive-
bred offspring. ASLC also
[[Page 22520]]
proposes to deploy biotelemetry instruments on the captives to develop
and validate methods for monitoring wild Steller sea lions. Research
would be conducted on one adult male, up to four adult females, and up
to six offspring, and would include the following activities: mass and
morphometric measurements; ultrasound; capture, sedation, and
anesthesia; blood sampling and administration of Evan's blue dye and
deuterium oxide; feces, urine, semen, and milk collection; video/audio
recordings; genital swabs; radiographs; dietary supplements; blubber
biopsy; and attachment of biotelemetry instrumentation. ASLC also
requests authorization to transfer to and import from approved North
American facilities up to two male and four female Steller sea lions,
not to exceed 11 animals held at ASLC for use in research. ASLC
requests up to two research-related mortalities over the course of the
permit. No research would occur on wild populations or affect non-
target species.
File No. 14335: The applicant, ASLC, (Principal Investigator: JoAnn
Mellish, Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit to investigate the decline
of the western stock of Steller sea lions and its failure to recover,
and to assist recovery efforts. Data would be obtained on juvenile
survival, epidemiology, endocrinology, immunology, virology,
physiology, ontogenetic and annual body condition cycles, foraging
behavior and habitat selection. Up to 20 pups (8-11 months) and 32
juveniles (12-48 months) of both sexes may be captured per year, with a
subset of up to 12 juveniles (12- 48 months) of both sexes selected for
temporary quarantine captivity at the South Beach facility at the ASLC.
Research activities would include capture/handle/release (floating
trap, underwater lasso), drug administration (IM, IV, oral,
subcutaneous, topical), anesthesia, temporary captivity, fecal and
urine collection, instrument attachment (external and internal),
marking, measuring, behavioral observations, photogrammetry, restraint,
sampling (blood, blubber biopsy, clip hair, fecal swab, blubber and
muscle biopsy, nasal swab, oral swab, skin biopsy, vibrissae pull,
stable isotopes and serial blood samples), transport, ultrasound,
unintentional mortality, weigh and x-ray. Up to 3,500 individuals of
all ages, either sex, may be incidentally harassed annually. Two
research-related mortalities per year are requested. The location of
activities would include the Gulf of Alaska and the ASLC.
File No. 14336: The applicant, Dr. Horning, requests a five-year
permit to determine survival rates, emigration, causes of mortality,
predation, and collect long-term forage effort data, in juvenile
eastern DPS sea lions, using surgically implanted scientific
instruments called Life History Transmitters (LHX tags). Up to 50 pups
and 50 juveniles of both sexes would be captured for sampling and LHX
tag deployment at Hazy Islands and in Frederick Sound, AK annually (100
animals total per age class). LHX tags would also be opportunistically
deployed in carcasses of dead Steller sea lions in AK, OR, and CA, and
in California sea lions in OR and CA to assess uplink failure rates.
Remote monitoring (using still, video, and infrared cameras) for
censusing, brand re-sighting, attendance patterns, and estimating body
mass, condition and health trends would be conducted at Long Island, AK
and Sea Lion Caves and Cascade Head, OR. Up to 900 individuals of all
ages and either sex in the western DPS and 8,800 in the eastern DPS of
all ages may be incidentally harassed annually. The applicant also
requests authorization for 5 research-related mortalities of eastern
DPS animals per year.
File No. 14337: The applicant, NPUMMRC, (Principal Investigator:
Andrew Trites, Ph.D.), requests a five-year permit to conduct studies
of Steller sea lion diets, distributions, life history traits,
physiology and the timing of weaning in AK. NPUMMRC also proposes to
evaluate pain experienced by Steller sea lions during hot-iron branding
conducted by researchers operating under separate permits. Research
activities would involve (maximum number of animals per year in
parentheses): disturbance associated with capture, observational
studies, and scat collection (10,720 eastern DPS; 28,220 western DPS);
and capture, restraint, tissue sampling, and marking (126 eastern DPS;
206 western DPS). NPUMMRC requests authorization for the annual
research-related mortality of 2 eastern DPS pups, 2 western DPS pups
during marking and 4 eastern DPS sea lions of any age, and 4 western
DPS sea lions of any age during other studies. NPUMMRC also requests
authorization for harassment of 15 northern fur seals, 5 California sea
lions, 10 northern elephant seals, 60 harbor seals, and 5 killer whales
(Orcinus orca) in AK annually incidental to the research on Steller sea
lions.
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 activities proposed are consistent with the Preferred Alternative
in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for
Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research (NMFS 2007), and that
issuance of the permits would not have a significant adverse impact on
the human environment.
As established under the Preferred Alternative, NMFS proposes to
authorize annual cumulative research-related mortality of up to 15
percent of the Potential Biological Removal levels for each stock.
These annual allowances would include observed and unobserved
mortalities, and be calculated based on the nature of the research. The
numbers of research-related mortalities permitted may be higher or
lower than those requested by the applicants.
Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the applications to the Marine
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
Dated: May 7, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-11198 Filed 5-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
