[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 159 (Thursday, August 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 42997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20651]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 080301B]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 1008-1637-00 and 779-1633-00

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following applicants have 
applied in due form for permits to take and import marine mammals and 
marine mammal parts for purposes of scientific research and 
enhancement: John Wise, Ph.D., Yale University, School of Medicine, 
P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034; and NMFS, Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
September 17, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment. (See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Ruth Johnson, (301)713-
2289.

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 222-226), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    File No. 1008-1637-00: Dr. Wise proposes to import marine mammal 
parts (lung, liver, kidney, brain, skin, blubber, and reproductive 
organs) from all species of stranded dead marine mammals (excluding 
walrus, polar bear, and sea otter) collected as part of government-
authorized marine mammal stranding operations along the coast of 
British Columbia, Canada, as well as receive such parts collected in 
the U.S. from stranded dead marine mammals or those that have died 
during rehabilitation efforts. Skin and blubber samples from live 
Steller sea lions and other marine mammals (excluding walrus, polar 
bear, and sea otter) may be received from activities permitted at the 
Alaska SeaLife Center, Mystic Aquarium, The Marine Mammal Center, and 
from other permitted research activities in the U.S. These parts will 
be used to determine tissue levels of metals in Steller sea lions and 
other marine mammal species and to establish a national resource of 
cell lines for use as model systems in the investigation of various 
factors related to marine mammal health (e.g., toxicity of metals, 
virology, etc.). Once the cell lines are established, they may be 
transferred to other researchers for such study, including export to 
Canada. The cell lines will not be sold for profit or used for 
commercial purposes.
    File No. 779-1633-00: The Southeast Fisheries Science Center 
(SEFSC) proposes to take various cetacean species by harassment during 
biopsy sampling, aerial and vessel-based line-transect sampling, 
acoustic sampling, observations of cetacean behavior, and photo-
identification for MMPA mandated stock assessment activities. 
Activities will occur in the North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico over a 
5-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 activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these 
applications should be mailed to the Chief, Permits and Documentation 
Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals 
requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a 
hearing on a particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301) 713-0376, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Please 
note that comments will not be accepted by e-mail or by other 
electronic media.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of these applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
    Documents for File No. 779-1633-00 (SEFSC) are available in 
locations as noted. File No. 1008-1637-00 (Dr. Wise) may be reviewed in 
all the following locations:
    (All files) Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301) 713-2289; fax (301) 713-0376;
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018;
    Protected Species Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, NMFS, 1601 
Kapiolani Blvd., Rm, 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)973-
2935; fax (808) 973-2941;
    (File No. 779-1633-00) Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone (978) 281-9200; fax (978) 281-9371;
    (File No. 779-1633-00) Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive 
Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727) 570-5301; 
fax (727) 570-5320.

    Dated: August 9, 2001.
Ann D. Terbush,
 Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-20651 Filed 8-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S