[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1834-1835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00181]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC766


Marine Mammals; File No. 17429

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Sea 
Life Park Hawaii, 41-202 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, HI 96795 
(Jerry Pupillo, Responsible Party), to maintain non-releasable Hawaiian 
monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) in captivity for enhancement 
purposes.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before February 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
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
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Room 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 944-2200; fax (808) 973-2941.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 20, 2013, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (78 FR 51146) that a request for a permit to 
conduct enhancement on the species identified above had been submitted 
by the above-named applicant. The requested permit has been issued 
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), the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and 
exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).

[[Page 1835]]

    Permit No. 17429-00 authorizes Sea Life Park Hawaii to continue to 
maintain and provide routine animal husbandry and veterinary care for 
one non-releasable adult Hawaiian monk seal and up to an additional 
three seals (four total, considering future non-releasable seals) at 
the monk seal exhibit at Sea Life Park Hawaii. Sea Life Park will 
maintain in permanent captivity seals removed from the wild under 
separate permits for stranding response and enhancement and are deemed 
non-releasable to the wild. The animals will be made available for 
scientific studies by researchers whose research protocols are approved 
by the Sea Life Park Hawaii Curator and staff veterinarian and 
authorized under separate permits. A public conservation and education 
lecture will be conducted daily concerning the status of Hawaiian monk 
seals, and educational descriptive signs with current information are 
on display at the monk seal exhibit. The permit expires November 30, 
2018.
    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: January 6, 2014.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-00181 Filed 1-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P