[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 61 (Monday, March 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 17540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06494]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA096]


Marine Mammals; File No. 21418

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 the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science 
Center's Marine Mammal Laboratory (MML), 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
Seattle, WA 98115-6349 (Responsible Party: John Bengtson, Ph.D.), has 
applied in due form for a permit to import, export, and receive marine 
mammal parts for scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 29, 2020.

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. 21418 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 also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. 21418 
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, (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 parts 222-226), and the Fur 
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The applicant requests a five year permit for worldwide import, 
export, and receipt of biological samples from up to 100,000 cetaceans 
and 100,000 pinnipeds (excluding walrus) annually for scientific 
research. The objectives of the permitted research are to provide 
information on marine mammal biology, including stock structure, diet, 
reproduction, genetics, fatty acid composition, contaminants, and 
annual levels of marine mammal bycatch through the analysis of 
specimens. The foreign and domestic sources of samples may include 
animals in captivity, legal subsistence harvests, animals killed 
incidental to legal commercial fisheries, other authorized persons or 
collections, and animals stranded in foreign countries.
    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: March 24, 2020.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-06494 Filed 3-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P