[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20728]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 24, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 081094A]

 

Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Return of Applications for Public Display Permits, Aqua Circus 
(P23D) and Safari World (P533A).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the issuance of public display 
permits as authorized by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 
(MMPA), (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) has been affected by the passage of 
the MMPA Amendments of 1994 (1994 Amendments). Under these new 
amendments, a public display permit is not required for a transfer of 
captive animals. Therefore, requests for public display permits 
affected by the new amendments have been returned to the following 
applicants: Aqua Circus of Cape Cod (59 CFR 5180) and Safari World (58 
CFR 54554).

EFFECTIVE DATE: The 1994 Amendments were enacted on April 30, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries regarding the issuance of public display permits 
should be submitted to: Chief, Permits Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Terbush (301) 713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the 1994 Amendments, (P.L. 103-238), a 
public display permit is not required for the transport of captive 
marine mammals from one public display facility to another; however, 
all recipients of marine mammals for public display purposes must: (1) 
Offer a program for education or conservation purposes that is based on 
professionally recognized standards of the public display community; 
(2) be registered or hold a license issued under 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq., 
i.e., from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (or, for foreign facilities, meets comparable 
standards); and (3) maintain facilities for the public display of 
marine mammals that are open to the public on a regularly scheduled 
basis and to which access is not limited or restricted other than by 
charging of an admission fee.
    Additionally, when marine mammals are transported from one facility 
to another, NMFS must be provided with 15-days' advance notification by 
the facility from which the animals are to be transferred. If the 
animals to be transported are from captive stock, no further NMFS 
authorization would be required. However, in the case of beached and 
stranded animals, a permit may be required if the animals are otherwise 
determined to be releasable to the wild.
    NMFS intends to revise regulations establishing new procedures for 
public display permits issued pursuant to 50 CFR part 216.

    Dated: August 17, 1994.
William W. Fox, Jr.,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-20728 Filed 8-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F