[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 231 (Monday, December 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67914-67915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23387]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE17


Marine Mammals; File No. 10040

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Gary Matson, Matson's Laboratory, 
LLC, PO Box 308, 8140 Flagler Road, Milltown, MT 5985, has been issued 
a scientific research permit to receive, import and export marine 
mammal specimens for scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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)427-2521; and
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 11, 2007, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (72 FR 51803) that a request for a scientific 
research permit had been submitted by the above-named organization. The 
requested permit has been issued 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 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 parts 222-
226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et 
seq.).
    The permit authorizes the receipt, import and export of teeth and 
prepared microscope slides obtained from seal and sea lion species, 
except walrus (Order Pinnipedia). The Matson Laboratory provides age 
related data to researchers and biologists. Age data are used in 
population modeling, with age structure an indicator of population 
condition. Teeth are sent to the laboratory for cementum age analysis. 
The number of teeth varies depending upon the nature of the project, 
from a single tooth to several hundred from a legal harvest; no more 
than 2000 teeth will be analyzed annually. Import and export authority 
is requested for all locations wherever pinnipeds occur and are the 
subject of government-authorized research and/or harvest. Principally, 
these locations are expected to be those within the jurisdiction of the 
Government of Canada. There will be no incidental takes of non-target 
species. A permit has been issued for five years.
    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 permit, 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 such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.


[[Page 67915]]


    Dated: November 26, 2007.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23387 Filed 11-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S