[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 34118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15459]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG345
Marine Mammals; File No. 21329
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 John P. Wise, Sr., Ph.D.,
University of Louisville, Department of Pharmacology, 500 S Preston
St., Suite 1319, Louisville, KY 40202 has applied in due form for a
permit to receive, import, and export biological samples from marine
mammals, sea turtles, and protected sharks for scientific research
purposes.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before August 20, 2018.
ADDRESSES: The application 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 File
No. 21329 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 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. 21329
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 Amy Hapeman,
(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.), 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.).
The applicant proposes to receive, import, and export specimens
from marine mammals, sea turtles, and protected sharks under NMFS'
jurisdiction to: (1) Determine concentrations of metals and other
environmental contaminants in these species; and (2) establish a
resource of marine mammal, sea turtle, and protected shark cell lines
for use as model systems in the investigation of various factors
related to the health of these protected species and as comparative
tools to human studies (toxicity of metals, virology, etc.). Import and
export authority is requested worldwide and the number of animals
requested per species is outlined in the take tables in the
application.
No take of live wild animals would be involved; tissues would be
received from the following sources: Marine mammals or sharks stranded
dead or that died during rehabilitation; captive marine mammals or
sharks held for public display or research; marine mammals and sharks
taken in a legal fishery; marine mammals, sea turtles, or sharks
sampled by other permitted researchers; and marine mammals or sharks
killed during legal subsistence hunts. Once the cell lines are
established, they may be transferred to other researchers for
scientific research, including export to world-wide locations. The cell
lines would not be sold for profit or used for commercial purposes. The
requested duration of the permit is 5 years.
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: July 16, 2018.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-15459 Filed 7-18-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P