[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 7755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02235]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC477


Marine Mammals; File No. 17754

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 
Circle, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32819, has applied in due form for a 
permit to import one female, captive-born Pacific white-sided dolphin 
(Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) for the purposes of public display.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
March 6, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The application 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
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, 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. 17754 
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 this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore or Kristy Beard, 
(301)427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking and 
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests authorization to import one female captive-
born Pacific white-sided dolphin from Kamogawa SeaWorld 1404-18 
Higashi-cho, Kamogawa, Chiba, Japan to Sea World San Antonio. The 
applicant requests this import for the purpose of public display. The 
receiving facility, Sea World San Antonio, 10500 SeaWorld Drive, San 
Antonio, TX 78251, is: (1) Open to the public on regularly scheduled 
basis with access that is not limited or restricted other than by 
charging for an admission fee; (2) offers an educational program based 
on professionally accepted standards of the AZA and the Alliance for 
Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums; and (3) holds an Exhibitor's 
License, number 74-C-0180, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131--59).
    In addition to determining whether the applicant meets the three 
public display criteria, NMFS must determine whether the applicant has 
demonstrated that the proposed activity is humane and does not 
represent any unnecessary risks to the health and welfare of marine 
mammals; that the proposed activity by itself, or in combination with 
other activities, will not likely have a significant adverse impact on 
the species or stock; and that the applicant's expertise, facilities 
and resources are adequate to accomplish successfully the objectives 
and activities stated in the application.
    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: January 29, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-02235 Filed 2-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P