[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 88 (Thursday, May 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25374-25375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10331]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042804C]


Marine Mammals; File No. 1054-1731

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 University of Florida, Aquatic 
Animal Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610 
(Ruth Francis-Floyd, DVM, Principal Investigator), has applied in due 
form for a permit to acquire, import, and export marine mammal 
specimens for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before June 7, 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
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.
    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.
    Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing email comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 1054-1731.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the

[[Page 25375]]

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 general purpose of the research is to study various aspects of 
disease afflicting marine mammals. Infectious disease investigations 
include viral pathogens such as West Nile virus, St. Louis Encephalitis 
virus, herpesvirus, and poxviruses. Other projects include development 
of a marine mammal histology database and atlas, research on the 
effects of boat strikes on cetacean bone, and investigation into acute 
phase proteins in cetaceans. Cell lines are proposed to be developed 
for some projects. The applicant has requested authorization to 
receive, import, and export specimen samples (hard and soft parts) 
world-wide from all marine mammals under NMFS jurisdiction (up to 250 
samples per species per year). Specimens that would be received, 
imported, and exported would be taken from the following sources in the 
U.S. and/or abroad: (1) routine husbandry sampling of captive animals; 
(2) samples taken from live animals by other permitted/authorized 
researchers; (3) samples taken from stranded animals; and (4) samples 
taken from animals during legal subsistence hunts.
    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: April 30, 2004.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-10331 Filed 5-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S