Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit (PHF# 859-1373)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042497D]

Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit (PHF# 859-1373)

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 the United States Air Force, 30th

Space Wing, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA 93437-5320, has applied in

due form for a permit to take California sea lions (Zalophus

californianus), Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi), and

northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) for purposes of

scientific research.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 4, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for

review upon written request or by appointment in the following

office(s):

Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-

West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289);

Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, 501 West Ocean Boulevard,

Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4001).

Written data or views, or requests for a public hearing on this

request, should be submitted to the Director, Office of Protected

Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD

20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the

specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be

appropriate.

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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit 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).

The purpose of the proposed research is to study the effects of

noise from rocket launches and subsequent sonic booms on pinnipeds

inhabiting Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) and the Northern Channel

Islands (NCI). Up to 25 California sea lions, 60 Pacific harbor seals

(if available, rehabilitated beached/stranded harbor seals will be used

in ABR studies at VAFB), and 25 northern elephant seals per year may be

taken by capture, chemically sedation, blood sampling, measurement of

auditory brainstem response, flipper tagging, and attachment/retrieval

of telemetry instruments. Not all animals may be subjected to all

procedures and some animals will be captured a second time for

instrument recovery. Up to 200 California sea lion pups and up to 500

northern elephant seal pups will be roto-tagged annually. Up to 5,000

California sea lions, 600 Pacific harbor seals, and 2,000 northern

elephant seals may be taken by incidental disturbance caused by capture

or census activities annually. Although mortality from the proposed

activities is not anticipated, it is possible that undetected health

problems may lead to aberrant reactions to the immobilizing drugs and

therefore permission is requested for the accidental mortality of up to

2 animals of each species annually. 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.

Dated: April 24, 1997.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97-11669 Filed 5-2-97; 8:45 am]

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