[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 245 (Friday, December 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77630-77631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30243]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XM26


Marine Mammals; File No. 14186

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 Sea World Inc., 9205 South Park 
Center Loop, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32819 [Brad Andrews, Responsible 
Party], has applied in due form for a permit take two non-releasable 
Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi) with the option of 
holding up to six non-releasable furs seals at any given time for 
purposes of enhancement.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before January 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/index.cfm, and then 
selecting File No. 14186 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available 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
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213.
    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. 14186.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended

[[Page 77631]]

(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.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    The applicant requests authorization to permanently maintain two 
non-releasable Guadalupe fur seals at Sea World of California (and 
other Sea World facilities if relocation is necessary) for enhancement 
purposes. These animals were taken into captivity by the Marine Mammal 
Health and Stranding Network and were deemed nonreleasable. Thus, 
release of either of these animals would not be in the best interest of 
their individual welfare and that of the wild population. Furthermore, 
the applicant has agreed to provide additional space for future non-
releasable Guadalupe fur seals should placement be necessary (up to 6 
total animals). These animals would be provided with daily husbandry 
care and treatment for current medical conditions, routine veterinary 
care, and would be made available for opportunistic research. The 
applicant has requested a five-year permit.
    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: December 12, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-30243 Filed 12-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S