[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 44 (Monday, March 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 10035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4901]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XN81


Marine Mammals; File No. 14341

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 Karen Terio, DVM, PhD, Zoological 
Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of 
Illinois, LUMC Room 0745, Building 101, 2160 South First Street, 
Maywood, IL 60153, has applied in due form for a permit to import 
marine mammal specimens for scientific research.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 8, 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. 14341 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
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9333.
    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. 14341.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jennifer Skidmore or Kate Swails, 
(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.).
    The applicant is requesting authorization to import unlimited 
biological samples from up to 200 individuals per year of the orders 
Cetacea (all species) and Pinnipedia (with the exception of walruses) 
from yet to be determined locations outside the U.S. All samples are 
being imported for diagnostic testing to determine the causes of 
outbreaks or unusual natural mortalities, investigations into the 
ecology of diseases in free-ranging animals, or unexpected mortalities 
in captive populations. All biological specimens would originate from 
animals found deceased in nature, collected opportunistically during 
the animals' capture by other researchers possessing permits for such 
activities, or from specimens legally held in captivity outside the 
U.S.A. No live animals would be taken from the wild for research. The 
permit is requested for a period of 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 activity proposed is 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: March 3, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-4901 Filed 3-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S