Marine Mammals

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 062697A]

Marine Mammals

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

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of scientific research permit no. 859-1373.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the United States Air Force, 30th

Space Wing, Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California 93437-5320, is

hereby authorized to take California sea lions (Zalophus

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

northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) for purposes of

scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review

upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:

Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,

[[Page 36050]]

1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/

713-2289); and

Regional Administrator, Southwest 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 5, 1997, notice was published in the

Federal Register (62 FR 24422) that the above-named applicant had

submitted a request for a scientific research permit to capture,

chemically sedate/immobilize, measure auditory brainstem response, take

blood samples, flipper tag, attach telemetry instruments, and recapture

capture, and unintentionally harass California sea lions (Zalophus

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

northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) in order to determine

the effects of noise from rocket launches and sonic booms. Activities

are to be conducted over a 5-year period in the vicinity of VAFB and

the Northern Channel Islands. The requested permit has been issued

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).

Dated: June 26, 1997.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97-17419 Filed 7-2-97; 8:45 am]

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