[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 7419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02609]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD527


Marine Mammals; File No. 18638 and 17305

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 scientific research permits have 
been issued to the following entities for the collection, import and 
export of marine mammal specimens:
    File No. 18638: National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML, Dr. John 
Bengtson, Responsible Party), 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 
98115; and
    File No. 17305: Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, 218 
N. Lee Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (Kathleen Dezio, 
Responsible Party).

ADDRESSES: The permits and related documents are available for review 
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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 30, 2014, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (79 FR 64571) that requests for permits to import 
marine mammal specimens for scientific research had been submitted by 
the above-named applicants. The requested permits have been issued 
under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (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.).
    Permit No. 18638 authorizes NMML to collect specimens from dead 
cetacean and pinniped species, and to receive, import, and export 
specimens taken legally worldwide. Samples (up to 100,000 individuals 
from each taxa group) would 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 are 
authorized. This permit expires on December 31, 2019.
    Permit No. 17305 authorizes The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and 
Aquariums to receive, import and export samples (hard and soft parts) 
from all species of marine mammals (pinnipeds except walrus, and 
cetaceans) under the jurisdiction of the NMFS. Specimens and parts 
would come from individual animals (up to 700 cetaceans and 400 
pinnipeds) already taken under separate authorization. No takes of live 
animals are authorized. This permit expires on January 31, 2020.
    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 
activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of these permits was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: February 4, 2015.
Perry F. Gayaldo,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-02609 Filed 2-9-15; 8:45 am]
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