[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59781-59782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29770]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072600B]


Marine Mammals; File Application No. 1004-1656

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Funtime, Inc. d/b/a Six Flags 
Worlds of Adventure, 1060 North Aurora Road, Aurora, OH 44202, has 
applied in due form for a permit to import two killer whales (Orcinus 
orca) for the purposes of public display.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
December 31, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910 (301/713-2289);
    Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn 
Drive, Glouster, MA, 01930-2298 (978/281-9116).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
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 this particular permit 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 other electronic 
media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore or Amy Sloan,(301/
713-2289).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject application for Permit No. 1004-
1656-00 is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the 
Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 
CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests authorization to import two killer whales 
(Orcinus orca), one adult female from Marineland S.A., Antibes, France 
and one adult male from Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to 
Funtime, Inc. d/b/a Six Flags Worlds of Adventure in Aurora, Ohio. The 
applicant requests these imports for the purpose of public display. The 
receiving facility, Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, 1060 North

[[Page 59782]]

Aurora Road, Aurora, OH 44202 is: (1) open to the public on regularly 
scheduled basis with access that is not limited or restricted other 
than by charging an admission fee; (2) offers an educational program 
based on professionally accepted standards of the AZA and the Alliance 
for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums; and (3) holds an Exhibitor's 
License, number 31-C-0137, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
under the Animal Welfare Act.
    In addition to determining whether the applicant meets the three 
public display criteria, NMFS must determine whether the applicant has 
demonstrated that the proposed activity is humane and does not 
represent any unnecessary risks to the health and welfare of marine 
mammals; that the proposed activity by itself or in combination with 
other activities, will not likely have a significant adverse impact on 
the species or stock; and that the applicant's expertise, facilities 
and resources are adequate to accomplish successfully the objectives 
and activities stated in the application.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: November 26, 2001.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-29770 Filed 11-29-01; 8:45 am]
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