[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 178 (Friday, September 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 52949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21348]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ52


Marine Mammals; File No. 13388

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 Sea World, Inc., 9205 South Park 
Center Loop, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32819 [Brad Andrews, Responsible 
Party] has been issued a permit to import one beluga whale 
(Delphinapterus leucas) for public display.

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
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 20, 2008, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (73 FR 29111) that a request for a public display 
permit to import one male adult beluga whale from the Vancouver 
Aquarium Marine Science Center, British Columbia, Canada to Sea World 
of Texas, 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).
    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.

    Dated: September 8, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-21348 Filed 9-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S