<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<results>
	<summaries>

		<summary>
			<p type="2">SUMMARY:</p>
			<p type="1">Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding
				permits for takes of marine mammal species for the purposes of
				scientific research:</p>
			<p type="1">
				NMFS has received a permit application from:
				<applicant>Ocean Alliance/Whale Conservation Institute</applicant>
				, 191 Weston Road,
				<applicant_location woeId="2439449" type="Town"
					name="Lincoln, MA, US">Lincoln, Massachusetts 01773</applicant_location>
				(
				<applicant>Dr. Roger S. Payne</applicant>
				, Principal Investigator) (Application No. 751-1614-00); NMFS has
				received applications for permit amendments from:; NMFS, National
				Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., BIN C15700,
				<applicant_location woeId="12798958" type="Zip"
					name="98115, Seattle, WA, US">Seattle, WA 98115-0070</applicant_location>
				(Permit No. 782-532-00)); and
				<applicant>Dr. Peter L. Tyack</applicant>
				, Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,
				<applicant_location woeId="12758881" type="Zip"
					name="02543, Woods Hole, MA, US">Woods Hole, MA 02543</applicant_location>
				(Permit No. 981-1578).
			</p>
		</summary>
	</summaries>
	<supplementary_information>

		<supplInfo>
			<p type="2">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</p>
			<p type="1">The subject application and permit amendments 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. )</p>
			<p type="2">New Application Received</p>
			<p type="1">For Application No. 715-1614-00, the applicant requests
				permission to conduct vessel and aerial surveys, collect tissue
				samples (sloughed skin and skin and blubber biopsies) from living,
				free-ranging animals and collect skin, blubber, blood, bone, baleen
				and other organ tissue samples from dead stranded animals from all
				age and sex classes of 21 cetacean species in U.S., foreign, and
				international waters. Tissue samples would be used to quantify
				toxicant loads and immunochemical responses to these loads to test
				the hypothesis that there are demonstrable differences between
				different populations ans species with regard to the levels of toxic
				compounds present. Genetic analyses would also be performed on
				samples to investigate the genetic diversity and variability of the
				population groups sampled. This information would be used to
				establish a baseline for comparisons with future samples and to
				assist in making future management and conservation policies.</p>
			<p type="2">Permit Amendment Requests Received</p>
			<p type="1">
				For Permit No. 782-1532-00, the Permit authorizes the Holder to take
				Steller sea lions (
				<species_scientific name="Eumetopias jubatus">Eumetopias jubatus
				</species_scientific>
				) for research that involves takes by aerial and ship based surveys
				biennally, capture and take morphological measurements, collect
				specimens (blood and biopsy), brand, tag, and disturb during scat
				collection. The Holder now requests to amend the take authority to
				conduct aerial surveys each year, include Southeast Alaska in
				monthly surveys, increase the number of animals to be incidentally
				harassed during scat collection, allow additional procedures for
				animal handling such as: using gas anesthesia, branding pups ≥4 mos
				and juveniles to 3 yrs, injecting Evan’s blue dye and deuterated
				water, collecting muscle biopsy, using noninvasive bioelectric
				impedance analysis, increasing blood sample volume, extracting a
				tooth, and pulling vibrissae. This Permit amendment will improve
				field techniques and incorporate collaborative efforts of scientists
				funded under the Steller Sea Lion Research Initiative.
			</p>
			<p type="1">
				For Permit No. 981-1578-00, the Permit authorizes the Holder to tag
				cetaceans with an advanced digital sound recording tag (DTAG) that
				can record the acoustic stimuli an animal hears, along with
				measuring vocal, behavioral, and physiological responses to sound
				played back at received levels of 120-160 dB re 1 micron Pa. The
				research was authorized in the Mediterranean and Ligurian Seas and
				off the coast of the Azores in the North Atlantic. The Holder
				requests an amendment to increase the source level but not the
				received level for a whale-finding sonar to 200 dB re 1 micron
				<research_location woeId="2347597" type="State"
					name="Pennsylvania, US">Pa</research_location>
				at 1 m, add playbacks involving exposure to impulse signals from
				airguns as used in seismic surveys, include one additional baleen
				whale species and 12 species of Odontocete whale, and extend the
				study area to include North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
			</p>
			<p type="1">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 categorically excluded from
				the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or
				environmental impact statement.</p>
			<p type="1">Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the
				application or amendment requests should be mailed to the Chief,
				Permits and Documentation 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 these particular requests
				would be appropriate.</p>
			<p type="1">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.</p>
			<p type="1">Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the
				Federal Register , NMFS is forwarding copies of thee application and
				amendment requests to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee
				of Scientific Advisors.</p>
			<p type="1">Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:</p>
			<p type="1">For all permits and permit amendments: Permits and
				Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315
				East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)
				713-2289; fax (301) 713-0376;</p>
			<p type="1">For permit 751-1614-00: Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand
				Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone
				(206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;</p>
			<p type="1">For permits 751-1614-00 and 782-1532-00: Alaska Region,
				NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907) 586-7221;
				fax (907) 586-7249;</p>
			<p type="1">For permit 751-1614-00: Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West
				Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)
				980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018;</p>
			<p type="1">For permits 751-1614-00 and 981-1578-00: Northeast Region,
				NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone (978)
				281-9200; fax (978) 281-9371; and</p>
			<p type="1">For permits 751-1614-00 and 981-1578-00: Southeast Region,
				NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL
				33702-2432; phone (727) 570-5301; fax (727) 570-5320.</p>
		</supplInfo>
	</supplementary_information>
</results>