[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 210 (Thursday, October 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64571-64572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25750]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD527
Marine Mammals; File Nos. 18638, 17305 and 18727
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following entities have
applied in due form for permits to collect, import and export specimens
of marine mammals for scientific research:
File No. 18638: National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML, Dr. John
Bengtson, Responsible Party), 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA
98115;
File No. 17305: Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, 218
N. Lee Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (Kathleen Dezio,
Responsible Party); and
File No. 18727: University of Alaska Museum of the North, 907 Yukon
Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6960 (Aren Gunderson, Responsible Party).
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before December 1, 2014.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting the
appropriate File No. 18638, 17305 or 18727 from the list of available
applications.
These documents are also available upon written request or by
appointment in the 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.
Written comments on these applications 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 appropriate File
No(s). 18638, 17305 and/or 18727 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 any of these applications would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore, Amy Sloan, or
Brendan Hurley, (301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are requested 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.), the
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
File No. 18638: NMML conducts research on marine mammals important
to the mission of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NMML is
requesting a renewal of Permit No. 13583 which authorizes collection of
cetacean and pinniped (except for walrus) specimens from dead animals,
and for import, export, and possession of specimens taken legally
worldwide. Samples (up to 100,000 individuals from each taxa group) may
be archived, transported, shared, and analyzed by researchers in order
to optimize the amount of biological information gained from each
animal. No takes of live animals would be authorized under this
[[Page 64572]]
permit. There will be no non-target species taken incidentally under
this permit because the permit would only cover import, export, and
possession of samples from dead animals or live animals taken legally
under other permits. A permit is requested for a five-year period.
File No. 17305: The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums
members participate in multiple research and husbandry programs to
study and enhance the health and biology of both wild marine mammals
and those in public display, research, and stranding facilities. To
achieve this objective, a permit to import/export parts and specimen
samples (hard and soft parts) collected from all species of marine
mammals (pinnipeds except walrus, and cetaceans) under the jurisdiction
of the NMFS is required. Specimens and parts will come from individual
animals (up to 700 cetaceans and 400 pinnipeds) already taken under
separate authorization, i.e., those maintained in Alliance member
facilities, as well as animals taken by authorized research projects or
subsistent hunts in the U.S. and internationally, and bycatch or
stranded animals in foreign countries. Import and export of parts and
samples authorized by this permit will result in no additional takes of
individual animals. Topics of particular interest include diseases of
marine mammals, pathology, health diagnostics, endocrinology, effects
of environmental contaminants, immunology, toxicology, stock structure,
distribution, age determination, reproduction, feeding habits and
nutrition. This application is a continuation of the work done under
Permit No.1076-1789. The requested duration of the permit is five
years.
File No. 18727: The University of Alaska Museum of the North
functions as an archive for scientific specimens of marine mammals
under the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries and is a major
repository of marine mammal material from the Arctic and North Pacific
oceans. Under the proposed permit, the applicant would (1) import/
export marine mammal parts (bones and organ tissue samples) from dead
beach-cast carcasses, (2) receive/archive and export samples of marine
mammals taken by Alaskan Native subsistence hunters, and (3) receive,
import/export specimens from scientists in academic, federal, and state
institutions involved in marine mammal research under their own
permits. Unlimited samples from up to 1,240 pinnipeds (35 species;
excluding walrus) and 1,700 cetaceans (81 species) would be collected,
received, imported, or exported annually. Import/export activities
would occur world-wide. No live animals would be harassed or taken,
lethally or otherwise, under the requested permit. The permit is
requested for a five-year period.
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 activities proposed are 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: October 24, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-25750 Filed 10-29-14; 8:45 am]
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