[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 210 (Thursday, October 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64571-64572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25750]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD527


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 18638, 17305 and 18727

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 entities have 
applied in due form for permits to collect, import and export specimens 
of marine mammals for scientific research:
    File No. 18638: National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML, Dr. John 
Bengtson, Responsible Party), 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 
98115;
    File No. 17305: Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, 218 
N. Lee Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (Kathleen Dezio, 
Responsible Party); and
    File No. 18727: University of Alaska Museum of the North, 907 Yukon 
Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6960 (Aren Gunderson, Responsible Party).

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

ADDRESSES: The applications 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 the 
appropriate File No. 18638, 17305 or 18727 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 these applications 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 appropriate File 
No(s). 18638, 17305 and/or 18727 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 any of these applications would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore, Amy Sloan, or 
Brendan Hurley, (301) 427-8401.

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 parts 222-226), and the Fur 
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    File No. 18638: NMML conducts research on marine mammals important 
to the mission of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the 
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NMML is 
requesting a renewal of Permit No. 13583 which authorizes collection of 
cetacean and pinniped (except for walrus) specimens from dead animals, 
and for import, export, and possession of specimens taken legally 
worldwide. Samples (up to 100,000 individuals from each taxa group) may 
be archived, transported, shared, and analyzed by researchers in order 
to optimize the amount of biological information gained from each 
animal. No takes of live animals would be authorized under this

[[Page 64572]]

permit. There will be no non-target species taken incidentally under 
this permit because the permit would only cover import, export, and 
possession of samples from dead animals or live animals taken legally 
under other permits. A permit is requested for a five-year period.
    File No. 17305: The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums 
members participate in multiple research and husbandry programs to 
study and enhance the health and biology of both wild marine mammals 
and those in public display, research, and stranding facilities. To 
achieve this objective, a permit to import/export parts and specimen 
samples (hard and soft parts) collected from all species of marine 
mammals (pinnipeds except walrus, and cetaceans) under the jurisdiction 
of the NMFS is required. Specimens and parts will come from individual 
animals (up to 700 cetaceans and 400 pinnipeds) already taken under 
separate authorization, i.e., those maintained in Alliance member 
facilities, as well as animals taken by authorized research projects or 
subsistent hunts in the U.S. and internationally, and bycatch or 
stranded animals in foreign countries. Import and export of parts and 
samples authorized by this permit will result in no additional takes of 
individual animals. Topics of particular interest include diseases of 
marine mammals, pathology, health diagnostics, endocrinology, effects 
of environmental contaminants, immunology, toxicology, stock structure, 
distribution, age determination, reproduction, feeding habits and 
nutrition. This application is a continuation of the work done under 
Permit No.1076-1789. The requested duration of the permit is five 
years.
    File No. 18727: The University of Alaska Museum of the North 
functions as an archive for scientific specimens of marine mammals 
under the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries and is a major 
repository of marine mammal material from the Arctic and North Pacific 
oceans. Under the proposed permit, the applicant would (1) import/
export marine mammal parts (bones and organ tissue samples) from dead 
beach-cast carcasses, (2) receive/archive and export samples of marine 
mammals taken by Alaskan Native subsistence hunters, and (3) receive, 
import/export specimens from scientists in academic, federal, and state 
institutions involved in marine mammal research under their own 
permits. Unlimited samples from up to 1,240 pinnipeds (35 species; 
excluding walrus) and 1,700 cetaceans (81 species) would be collected, 
received, imported, or exported annually. Import/export activities 
would occur world-wide. No live animals would be harassed or taken, 
lethally or otherwise, under the requested permit. The permit is 
requested for a five-year period.
    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: October 24, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-25750 Filed 10-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P