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Pursuant to Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), upon application from the University of California Santa Cruz, plans to propose regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to conducting research activities related to rocky intertidal monitoring along the coasts of Oregon and California. The regulations will set forth the permissible methods of taking; means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the affected species or stocks and their habitats; and requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. A Letter of Authorization issued under the regulations would authorize the take of marine mammals incidental to the specified activities for a 5-year period. This would be the second 5-year rule promulgated on request from the applicant.