[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48967-48968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20064]


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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; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to the 
North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 69, 
Barrow, AK 99723 [Taqulik Hepa, Responsible Party; Dr. John C. George, 
Principal Investigator] to collect, import, export, and receive marine 
mammal parts for scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 19, 2012 notice was published in the 
Federal Register (77 FR 36488) that a request for a permit to collect, 
receive, import and export specimens for scientific research had been 
submitted by the above-named applicant. 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), 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 parts 222-226), and the 
Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The permit authorizes the collection, receipt, import and export of 
samples of marine mammals taken by Alaskan Native subsistence hunters; 
and the receipt, import, and export of specimens from legal foreign 
(Russia and Canada) and domestic subsistence-collected marine mammals 
of the following species: bearded seal (Erignathus

[[Page 48968]]

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). Import and export activities for sample analysis 
may occur world-wide. No takes of live animals are authorized. The 
permit will expire August 8, 2017.
    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.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: August 9, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-20064 Filed 8-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P