Marine Mammals; File No. 859-1680

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100302B]

Marine Mammals; File No. 859-1680

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Jim Johnston, Chief Environmental

Planner, United States Air Force, Environmental Management Office,

Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA 93437, has applied in due form for a

permit to take California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), northern

elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), northern fur seals

(Callorhinus ursinus), and Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina

richardsi) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before

November 12, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for

review 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)713-0376; and

Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long

Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams or Amy Sloan, (301)713-

2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is 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.).

The applicant requests a 5 year permit to take up to 700 California

sea lions, 700 northern elephant seals, 50 northern fur seals, and 550

harbor seals inhabiting Vandenberg Air Force Base and the northern

Channel Islands annually by capture, sedation, blood sampling, skin

biopsy, physiological measurements, hearing sensitivity tests,

attachment of scientific instruments, temporary captive maintenance,

recapture for retrieval of instruments, surveys of abundance and

distribution, incidental harassment, and accidental mortality. The

purpose of the proposed project is to study the effects of noise from

rocket launches and the subsequent launch-generated sonic booms on

pinnipeds. The movements and foraging behavior of seals exposed to

launch noise and/or sonic booms will be compared with non-exposed

control animals using remote VHF radio-telemetry, satellite

transmitters, and electronic data loggers.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that

the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to

prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this

application 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 this particular request would be appropriate.

Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)713-0376,

provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and

postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Please

note that comments will not be accepted by e-mail or by other

electronic media.

Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal

Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine

Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

Dated: October 3, 2002.

Trevor R. Spradlin,

Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of

Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 02-25711 Filed 10-9-02; 8:45 am]

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