# Marine Mammals; File No. 782-1765-00
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Issuance of permit.
**SUMMARY:**
Notice is hereby given that Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Seattle, Washington 98115-0070 (Principal Investigator: John L. Bengtson, Ph.D.) has been issued a permit to conduct research on ice seals in Alaska.
**ADDRESSES:**
The permit 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 (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376; and
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249;
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Ruth Johnson or Amy Sloan, (301)713-2289.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
On July 15, 2004, notice was published in the *Federal Register* (69 FR 42424) that a request for a scientific research permit to conduct research on ringed seals ( *Phoca hispida* ), ribbon seals ( *Phoca fasciata* ), and bearded seals ( *Erignathus barbatus* ) had been submitted by the above-named organization. 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).
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 *et seq.* ), a final determination has been made that the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
Dated: September 1, 2004.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.