03-11738. Marine Mammals; File No. 1045-1713

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Receipt of application.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that Dr. Stephen J. Insley, Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham St., San Diego, California 92109, has applied in due form for a permit to take northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES:

Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before June 11, 2003.

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 [phone]; fax [phone]; and

Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone [phone]; fax [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Jefferies or Amy Sloan, [phone].

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.).

This research project is designed to remotely investigate atsea interactions between northern fur seals and ships, particularly the impact of commercial fishing vessels on the northern fur seals. Annually, ten lactating female northern fur seals from the Pribilof Islands in Alaska will be captured, measured, outfitted with datalogging instrumentation, and released. The individuals will be tracked and recaptured, the datalogger removed and the animals subsequently released. Additionally, authorization for Level B Harrassment of northern fur seals is requested for 50 pups, 50 breeding females, 25 mature males, and 50 immature males, annually. These activities will be authorized over five years. The results of this research will provide important information for management decisions regarding northern fur seals.

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 [phone], 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: May 6, 2003.

Stephen L. Leathery,

Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.