[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37389-37390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15771]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XX08


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14628 and 15471

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that the following two entities have 
applied in due form for permits to import marine mammal parts for 
scientific research purposes:National Museum of Natural History, 
Smithsonian Institution (Charles W. Potter, Responsible Party), PO Box 
37012, Washington, DC 20013 (File No. 14628) andMichael Adkesson, 
D.V.M., Chicago Zoological Society, 3300 Golf Rd., Brookfield, Illinois 
60527 (File No. 15471).

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before July 29, 2010.

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)713-0376; and
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978)281-9328; fax (978) 281-9394.
    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)713-0376, 
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. 14628 or File No. 15471.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are 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.14628: The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is 
requesting authorization to collect, import, export, possess, archive, 
and conduct analyses of marine mammal and endangered species parts. The 
applicant is requesting parts of all marine mammal under NMFS 
jursidiction to be included in this permit. Please refer to the 
following website for the list of species: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/. No live animal takes are being requested and no 
incidental

[[Page 37390]]

harassment of animals would occur. Parts would be archived by the NMNH 
and used to support research studies and incidental education. A five-
year permit is requested.
    File No. 15471: Michael Adkesson, D.V.M. is requesting 
authorization to import biological samples (blood, swabs, feces, 
blubber, biopsies and milk) taken from both live and dead South 
American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), during ongoing health 
assessment studies in Punta San Juan, Peru. Samples may be archived, 
transported, and analyzed by researchers in order to optimize the 
amount of biological information gained from each animal. There will be 
no non-target species taken incidentally under this permit because the 
permit would only cover import and possession of samples from animals 
taken legally under other permits. A five-year permit is requested.
    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: June 24, 2010.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-15771 Filed 6-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S