[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37719-37720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15483]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD340


Marine Mammals; File No. 18523

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 Heather Liwanag, Ph.D., Adelphi 
University, Biology Department, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530 
has applied in due form for a permit to receive, import, and export 
specimens of marine mammals for scientific research purposes.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before August 1, 2014.

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. 18523 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the 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.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may

[[Page 37720]]

also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by email to 
[email protected]. Please include the File No. 18523 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: Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, (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.), 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 proposes to receive and maintain tissue and other 
specimen materials for opportunistic research on the physiology, 
morphology, evolutionary relationships, and other biological aspects of 
marine mammals. Unlimited samples from up to 1,500 individuals of each 
species of cetacean, and from up to 1,500 individuals of each species 
of pinniped (excluding walrus) are requested to be received, imported, 
or exported annually on an opportunistic basis. Marine mammal samples 
may be obtained from the following sources: (1) Animals killed during 
legal subsistence harvests in the U.S. and abroad; (2) Animals that 
died incidental to legal commercial fishing operations in the U.S. and 
in foreign countries; (3) Animals stranded alive or dead in foreign 
countries; (4) Samples collected from captive animals, including live 
animals and those that die in captivity, where such samples were taken 
as a result of routine husbandry procedures or under separate permit or 
authorization in the U.S. and abroad; and (5) Samples from other 
authorized researchers and collections in academic, federal, state or 
other institutions involved in marine mammal research in the U.S. and 
abroad. Samples collected from stranded animals in the U.S. and 
received under separate authorization may be exported and re-imported. 
The applicant has requested a 5-year permit.
    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 the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: June 26, 2014.
Jolie Harrison,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-15483 Filed 7-1-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P