# Marine Mammals; File No. 782-1702
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Notice; issuance of permit amendment.
**SUMMARY:**
Notice is hereby given that NMFS National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 782-1702.
**ADDRESSES:**
The amendment 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)427-2521;
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
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Tammy Adams or Kate Swails, (301)713-2289.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
On October 10, 2007, notice was published in the *Federal Register* (72 FR 57524) that an amendment of Permit No. 782-1702 had been requested by the above-named organization. The requested amendment has been granted 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).
The amended permit adds authorization to conduct additional activities on up to 20 adult harbor seals ( *Phoca vitulina* ) annually in Washington and Oregon. These seals, excluding pregnant or lactating females, would receive gas anesthesia following capture, have stomach temperature transmitters inserted via stomach intubation, and have an external data logger attached externally. The purpose of the additional protocols is to augment current studies on harbor seal diet and abundance. This amendment would not result in capture or disturbance of marine mammals beyond those numbers already authorized by the subject permit, which was issued on September 16, 2003 (68 FR 58663).
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: November 19, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.