[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 1 (Monday, January 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 78]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28740]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 122704B]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 881-1668, 1010-1641, 782-1532, 434-
1669, and 800-1664

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following organizations and 
individual have been issued amendments to permits for scientific 
research on Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus): The Alaska SeaLife 
Center, Seward, Alaska (Permit No. 881-1668); The Aleutians East 
Borough, Kodiak, Alaska (Permit No. 1010-1641); The National Marine 
Mammal Laboratory, NMFS, Seattle, Washington (Permit No. 782-1532); The 
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Corvallis, Oregon (Permit No. 
434-1669); and Dr. Randall Davis, Texas A&M University, Department of 
Marine Biology, Galveston, Texas (Permit No. 800-1664).

ADDRESSES: The amendments and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    All permits - 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;
    Permit No. 434-1669 - Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way 
NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; 
fax (206)526-6426; and
    All permits - Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 
99802-1668; phone (907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Tammy Adams or Amy Sloan, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 27, 2002 , notice was published in 
the Federal Register (67 FR 43283) that requests for permits and permit 
amendments to ``take'' Steller sea lions by harassment during 
scientific research had been submitted by the above-named individuals/
organizations. The permits and permit amendments were issued on 
November 12, 2002 (67 FR 697243). Amendments to these permits have been 
issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended (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).
    These minor amendments extend the expiration date for all five 
permits from December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2005. These five permits 
authorize ``takes'' of Steller sea lions by harassment during a variety 
of research activities. These amendments do not authorize any 
additional ``takes'' of Steller sea lions. Rather, they allow the 
permit holders an additional 12 months to use any research-related 
harassment ``takes'' remaining from the 2004 permit year.
    Issuance of these permit amendments, as required by the ESA, was 
based on a finding that such permit amendments: (1) were applied for in 
good faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered 
species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set 
forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: December 27, 2004.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-28740 Filed 12-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S