[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 2848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00857]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD527


Marine Mammals; File No. 18727

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 
University of Alaska Museum of the North, 907 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks, 
AK 99775-6960 (Aren Gunderson, Responsible Party), to collect, import 
and export specimens of marine mammals for scientific research.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Dec 8, 2014, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (79 FR 72630) that a request for a permit to receive, 
import, and export specimens of marine mammals for scientific research 
purposes 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 permit holder to (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 2,000 pinnipeds (excluding 
walrus) and 600 cetaceans 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 valid through December 31, 2020.
    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: January 13, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00857 Filed 1-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P