[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70234-70235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31138]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 120903D]


Marine Mammals; File No. 881-1724

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 the Alaska SeaLife Center, 301 
Railway Avenue, Seward, Alaska 99664, has applied in due form for a 
permit to import and export marine mammal parts for purposes of 
scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
January 16, 2004.

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; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376; and
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249.

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

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 222-226), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The applicant requests authorization to import and export an 
unlimited number of specimen samples (hard and soft parts) from the 
following species: Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella), 
Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus), Australian sea lion 
(Neophoca cinerea), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), 
harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), 
ribbon seal (Phoca fasciata), ringed seal (Phoca hispida), Southern fur 
seal (Arctocephalus australis), Southern sea lion (Otaria flavescens), 
Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), beluga whale (Delphinapterus 
leucas), bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), gray whale (Eschrichtius 
robustus), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), killer whale 
(Orcinus orca), and sperm whale (Physeter catodon). Specimens would be 
collected from the following sources and then imported or exported: 
under existing permits in the country of origin; from legal subsistence 
hunts; from legal incidental bycatch; and from opportunistic collection 
of stranded carcasses. The purposes of this research are for a number 
of projects to study marine mammal population ecology, diet and 
nutrition, reproductive physiology, toxicology, and health. The 
applicant has requested a five-year permit.
    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

[[Page 70235]]

prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed 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 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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: December 11, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-31138 Filed 12-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S