[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 182 (Friday, September 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58340-58341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20563]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA489]


Marine Mammals; File No. 23447

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 Alliance of Marine Mammal 
Parks and Aquariums, 218 N. Lee Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, Virginia 
22314

[[Page 58341]]

(Responsible Party: Kathleen Dezio), has applied in due form for a 
permit to receive, import, and export marine mammal parts for 
scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before October 19, 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. 23447 from the list of available applications. These documents are 
also available upon written request via email to 
[email protected].
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Please include File No. 23447 in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request via email to [email protected]. The request 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application 
would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore or Courtney Smith, 
(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 proposes to receive, import, and export marine mammal 
parts (unlimited samples from up to 700 individual cetaceans and 400 
individual pinnipeds [excluding walrus]) to study and enhance the 
health and biology of both wild marine mammals and those in public 
display, research, and stranding facilities. Research topics include 
diseases of marine mammals, pathology, health diagnostics, 
endocrinology, effects of environmental contaminants, immunology, 
toxicology, stock structure, distribution, age determination, 
reproduction, sperm preservation, artificial insemination, feeding 
habits and nutrition. Specimens and parts will come from the following 
U. S. or foreign sources: Animals in captivity (samples taken during 
routine husbandry procedures or under separate authorization); animals 
in foreign countries stranded alive or dead or that died during 
rehabilitation; animals killed during legal subsistence harvests; 
animals killed incidental to legal commercial fishing operations; or 
samples from other authorized persons or collections. It is expected 
that the majority of samples would be exchanged between designated 
Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums members (from captive 
animals) and their collaborators. The proposed action will not result 
in additional takes of individual animals. The applicant has requested 
a 5-year permit.
    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 copies of the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: September 14, 2020.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-20563 Filed 9-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P