[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 177 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52829-52830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21124]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XK33


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 13583 and 13599

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following two entities have 
applied in due form for permits to conduct import marine mammal parts 
for scientific research purposes:
    National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML, Dr. John Bengtson, 
Responsible Party), 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 (File No. 
13583) and
    National Ocean Service Marine Forensic Lab (NOS Lab, Julie Carter, 
Principal Investigator), 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412 
(File No. 13599).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before October 14, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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 (File Nos. 13583 and 
13599);
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249; and

[[Page 52830]]

    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, 
Florida 33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
    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)427-2521, 
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 e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 13583 or File No. 13599

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore (File Nos. 13583 and 
13599), Kate Swails (File No. 13583) or Brandy Belmas (File No. 13599), 
(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.).
    File No. 13583: NMML conducts research on marine mammals important 
to the mission of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NMML is 
requesting a renewal of Permit No. 782-1694 which authorizes collection 
of cetacean and pinniped (except for walrus) specimens from dead 
animals, and for import, export, and possession of specimens taken 
legally worldwide. Samples may be archived, transported, shared, and 
analyzed by researchers in order to optimize the amount of biological 
information gained from each animal. No takes of live animals would be 
authorized under this permit. There will be no non-target species taken 
incidentally under this permit because the permit would only cover 
import, export, and possession of samples from dead animals or live 
animals taken legally under other permits. A permit is requested for a 
five-year period.
    File No.13599: The NOS Lab is requesting authorization to receive, 
import, export, transfer, archive, and conduct analyses of marine 
mammal and endangered species parts. The applicant is requesting all 
cetaceans, pinnipeds (except for walrus), sea turtles (in the water), 
smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser 
brevirostrum) and white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) under NMFS 
jursidiction to be included in this permit request. No live animal 
takes are being requested and no incidental harassment of animals would 
occur. Samples would be archived at the NOS Lab and used to support law 
enforcement actions, research studies (primarily genetics), and 
outreach education. A permit is requested for five years. 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 activities 
proposed are 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: September 5, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-21124 Filed 9-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S