[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 196 (Thursday, October 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58316-58317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25558]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

[I.D. 082803]


Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; National Marine Fisheries 
Service File Nos. 764-1703, 1038-1693, and 116-1691; U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service File Nos. PRT-068532, PRT-064776, and PRT-062475

AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce; U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (FWS), Interior.

ACTION:  Receipt of applications for permits from NMFS and FWS.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following applicants have 
applied in due form for permits from NMFS and FWS to take parts from 
species of marine mammals for purposes of scientific research: (1) The 
National Museum of Natural History, Department of Systematic Biology, 
MRC 108, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 (File No. 764-
1703/PRT-068532, Charles Potter, Principal Investigator (PI)); (2) 
Darla Rae Ewalt, USDA, APHIS, National Veterinary Services 
Laboratories, 1800 Dayton Road, Ames, Iowa 50010 (File No. 1038-1693/
PRT-064776); and (3) Sea World, Inc., 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, 
Florida 32821 (File No. 116-1691/PRT-062475, Dr. Todd Robeck, PI).

DATES:  Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
November 10, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The application requests and related documents are available 
for review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s): see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these requests 
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 amendment 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, Amy Sloan, or Ruth 
Johnson (301)713-2289 or email: [email protected] or 
[email protected], [email protected].

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 parts 18 and 216), the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.), the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 17 and 222-226).
    The National Museum of Natural History (File No. 764-1703/PRT-
068532) requests a permit to salvage, collect, import/export, analyze 
samples, carcasses, hard and soft parts taken from pinnipeds, 
sirenians, sea and marine otters, and cetaceans to obtain information 
about the biology and life history of marine mammals and the role they 
play in the environment. Additionally, samples will be archived and 
curated at the Natural History Museum. No live animal takes are 
requested. A permit is requested for a period of five years.
    Darla Ewalt (File No. 1038-1693/PRT-064776) requests authorization 
to receive from Canada tissue samples taken from legally harvested 
beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), narwhals (Monodon monoceros), 
walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) and ringed seals (Phoca hispida). Tissues to 
be imported include blood, lymph nodes, lungs and reproductive organs. 
These samples will be utilized in brucellosis research investigating 
the presence of Brucella in subsistence harvested marine mammals. The 
applicant is requesting a five year permit.
    Sea World, Inc. (File No. 116-1691/PRT-062475) requests 
authorization to collect, receive, import, and export an unlimited 
number of pinniped and cetacean specimens including but not limited to 
reproductive cells and organs, urine, feces, saliva, ocular secretions, 
and whole blood taken from dead or captive individuals to study 
reproductive physiology, including endocrinology, gamete biology, and 
cryophysiology. Specimens may be collected under the following 
circumstances for dead animals: directly taken in fisheries for such 
animals, in countries or situations where such activity is permitted; 
killed incidental to fishing or other operations; found dead at sea or 
beached; or that died of natural causes. For captive animals, specimens 
may be collected from animals that are being housed in countries or 
situations where such activity is legal and from animals that have been 
behaviorally conditioned for specimen donation as part of routine 
husbandry procedures. Specimens may be taken at anytime of the year and 
in all areas worldwide where pinnipeds and cetaceans are found. The 
requested duration of the permit is five 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 activities 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.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    Permits, Conservation and Education 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;

[[Page 58317]]

    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;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371;
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320; and
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 (1-800-358-2104).

    Dated: October 2, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    Dated: October 2, 2003.
Charlie R. Chandler, Chief, Branch of Permits, Division of Management 
Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 03-25558 Filed 10-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S