[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 14907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06391]



[[Page 14907]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD825


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 17278 and 17557

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for permit amendments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that James Shine, Ph.D., Harvard 
University School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, 404H West, Boston, 
Massachusetts 02215, and the NMFS Forensics Office, 219 Fort Johnson 
Road, Charleston, SC 29412, have applied for amendments to their 
respective permits, Scientific Research Permit Nos. 17278 and 17557.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 20, 2015.

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 
home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 
17278 or 17557 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 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 would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore, Amy Sloan, or 
Malcolm Mohead; phone: (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendments to these permits are 
requested 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 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    Permit No. 17278, issued on August 29, 2012 (77 FR 54902), 
authorizes Dr. Shine to import and receive parts from subsistence-
collected long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) archived at the 
Faroese Museum of Natural History, Foroe Islands. The permit holder is 
requesting the permit be amended to increase the number of samples 
imported from 15 to 100 animals annually, as well as authorization to 
conduct analyses of chlorinated and fluorinated organic chemicals using 
the same samples. No live takes from the wild would be authorized. The 
permit expires on August 28, 2017.
    Permit No. 17557, issued on August 9, 2013 (78 FR 50395), 
authorizes the NMFS Forensics Office to receive, import, export, 
transfer, archive, and conduct analyses marine mammal and endangered 
species parts. Species include all those covered under the MMPA and ESA 
under NMFS jurisdiction. Samples are archived at the lab and used to 
support law enforcement actions, research studies (primarily genetics), 
and outreach education. The permit holder is requesting the permit be 
amended to include scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewinia) 
recently listed under the ESA. No live takes from the wild would be 
authorized. The permit expires on August 9, 2018.
    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 a copy of the amendment submitted for 
Permit No. 17278 to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of 
Scientific Advisors.

     Dated: March 16, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-06391 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P