[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12081-12082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03836]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF213


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 16609 and 20646

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 Zoological Society of San 
Diego [Douglas Myers, Responsible Party], P.O. Box 120551, San Diego, 
CA 92112 (File No. 16609), and the Morgridge Institute for Research 
[James Thomson, Ph.D., Responsible Party], 330 N. Orchard St., Madison, 
WI 53715 (File No. 20646), have applied in due form for permits to 
import, export, and receive marine mammal parts for scientific 
research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before March 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
``Features''

[[Page 12082]]

box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) home 
page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 16609 or 
20646 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 either of 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. 16609 and/or 20646 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: Shasta McClenahan or Jennifer 
Skidmore; phone: (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.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    File No. 16609: The applicant proposes to receive, import, and 
export biological samples to establish and bank cell lines. Samples may 
be received from any species of cetacean, pinniped, or sea turtle, 
including ESA-listed species, from up to 30 individuals of each 
species. The requested duration of the permit is five years.
    File No. 20646: The applicant proposes to receive, import, and 
export biological samples to establish and bank cetacean stem cells. 
Samples may be acquired for any species of marine mammal; however, the 
applicant has identified 38 species of cetaceans, including ESA-listed 
species, to focus acquisition efforts. Up to 12 individuals of each 
species would be requested. In addition, eight samples (from four 
individual animals) currently on loan would be transferred permanently 
to the applicant. The requested duration of the permit is five years.
    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 applications to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: February 22, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03836 Filed 2-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P