[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 7262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2281]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF45


Marine Mammals; File No. 42-1908

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 Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan 
Boulevard, Mystic, CT 06355 (Dr. Lisa Mazzaro, Principal Investigator) 
has been issued a permit to conduct research and enhancement on Steller 
sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) being held in captivity and to import 
and export parts from all cetaceans and pinniped species (excluding 
walrus) 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)427-2521; and
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 8, 2007, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (72 FR 31811) that a request for a scientific research 
permit to take the species identified above 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.).
    Mystic Aquarium has been issued a permit to continue activities 
authorized under Permit No. 42-1642-03 for the following two projects: 
Project 1: Research and display of captive Steller sea lions including 
authorization (1) to import or receive a second intact adult male 
Steller sea lion and subsequently return this animal to its facility of 
origin, if necessary; and (2) to import up to nine female Steller sea 
lions from the Vancouver Aquarium, and to receive a ``non-releasable'' 
one year old male Steller sea lion from The Marine Mammal Center in 
Sausalito, California. At any one time the maximum number of adult male 
SSL maintained at Mystic Aquarium will be two and the number of females 
and pups will not exceed nine.
    Project 2: Receipt, import and export of tissues from a maximum of 
10,000 animals, up to 30 samples per animal per year (i.e., 5000 
pinniped and 5000 cetaceans) under NMFS jurisdiction in the U.S. and 
abroad (i.e. worldwide). Samples will be analyzed for purposes of 
research on marine mammal health (e.g., nutrition, disease, immune 
function, environmental stressors).
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an environmental assessment was prepared 
analyzing the effects of the permitted activities. After a Finding of 
No Significant Impact, the determination was made that it was not 
necessary to prepare an 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.

    Dated: February 1, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2281 Filed 2-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S