[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22563-22564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9088]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB159
Marine Mammals; File No. 17217
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Saint Louis Zoo, 1 Government
Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110, has applied in due form for a permit to
import four harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) for the purposes of public
display.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before May 16, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available upon
written request or by appointment in the following offices:
Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910;
phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg,
Florida 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
Written comments on this application should be submitted to the
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. 17217
in the subject line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore or Colette Cairns,
(301) 427-8401.
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.), and the regulations governing the
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
The applicant requests authorization to import four female harbor
seals from the Storybrook Gardens, 1958 Storybrook Lane, London,
Ontario, N6K 4Y6, Canada for purposes of public display at the St.
Louis Zoo. The receiving facility: (1) Is open to the public on
regularly scheduled basis with access that is not limited or restricted
other than by charging an admission fee; (2) offers an educational
program based on professionally recognized standards; and (3) holds an
Exhibitor's License, number 43-C-0032, issued by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131--59). The
import would occur upon receipt of the permit and the permit would
expire one year after the date of issuance.
In addition to determining whether the applicant meets the three
public display criteria, NMFS must determine
[[Page 22564]]
whether the applicant has demonstrated that the proposed activity is
humane and does not represent any unnecessary risks to the health and
welfare of marine mammals; that the proposed activity by itself, or in
combination with other activities, will not likely have a significant
adverse impact on the species or stock; and that the applicant's
expertise, facilities and resources are adequate to accomplish
successfully the objectives and activities stated in the application.
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.
Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
Dated: April 11, 2012.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-9088 Filed 4-13-12; 8:45 am]
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