[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36488-36489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14931]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC067


Marine Mammals; File No. 17350

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 North Slope Borough Department of 
Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 69, Barrow, AK 99723 [Taqulik Hepa, 
Responsible Party; Dr. John C. George, Principal Investigator], has 
applied in due form for a permit to collect, import, export, and 
receive marine mammal parts for scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 19, 2012.

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, and then selecting File 
No. 17350 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:

Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 
1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 
(301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376; and
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907) 
586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249.

    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief,

[[Page 36489]]

Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the 
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on these applications would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Morse or Amy Sloan, (301) 427-
8401.

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.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    The North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management requests 
authorization to collect, receive, import and export parts from legal 
foreign (Russia and Canada) and domestic subsistence-collected marine 
mammals of the following species: Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), 
ringed seal (Phoca hispida), spotted seal (Phoca larga), ribbon seal 
(Phoca fasciata), bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), beluga whale 
(Delphinapterus leucas), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), grey 
whale (Eschrichtius robustus), and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). 
Parts would be archived and used for research on a variety of health-
related analyses such as tissue histology, contaminants analyses, 
infectious disease research, parasitology studies, and stable isotope 
work. Additionally, tissues would be collected to augment the National 
Marine Mammal Tissue Bank or state tissue archives. No animals would be 
killed for the purpose of providing samples under this permit. No live 
animal takes are being requested and no incidental harassment of 
animals would occur. The requested duration of the permit is 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 the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: June 13, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-14931 Filed 6-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P