[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 14 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3365-3366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1243]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[I.D. 091604D]


Marine Mammals; NMFS Permit No. 31-1741-00; USFWS Permit No. 
MA081663-0

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Wildlife Conservation Society 
(WCS), 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10460 [Dr. Howard C. 
Rosenbaum, Principal Investigator], has been issued a permit to obtain 
and import/export marine mammal specimens for purposes of scientific 
research.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371; and
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, VA 22203 (1-800-358-
2104).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 27, 2004, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (69 FR 22770) that a

[[Page 3366]]

request for a joint NMFS/USFWS scientific research permit to obtain and 
import/export samples taken from marine mammals of the Orders 
Pinnipedia, Cetacea, Sirenia; and Carnivora (marine and sea otters) had 
been submitted by the above-named organization. The permit has been 
granted under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations Governing 
the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR parts 18 and 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 parts 17 and 222-226), and 
the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.). No live 
animal takes are authorized.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Issuance of this amendment, as required by the ESA was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the 
subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: January 13, 2005.
Amy C. Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

    Dated: January 13, 2005.
Charlie R. Chandler,
Chief, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 05-1243 Filed 1-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S