[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 91 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30281-30282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10059]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC992]


Marine Mammals; File No. 26774

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 John P. Wise, Sr., Ph.D., 
University of Louisville, Department of Pharmacology, 500 S Preston 
St., Suite 1319, Louisville, KY 40202 has applied in due form for a 
permit to receive, import, and export parts from marine mammals, sea 
turtles, sawfish, and sharks for scientific research purposes.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before June 12, 2023.

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. 26774 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. 26774 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 Amy Hapeman, 
(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 parts from 
all marine mammals and sea turtles, as well as endangered sawfish and 
sharks under NMFS' jurisdiction to: (1) determine concentrations of 
metals and other environmental contaminants in these species; and (2) 
establish a resource of marine mammal, sea turtle, sawfish, and shark 
cell lines for use as model systems in the investigation of various 
factors related to the health of these protected species and as 
comparative tools to human studies (toxicity of metals, virology, 
etc.). Import and export authority is requested worldwide and the 
number of animals requested per taxa group or species is outlined in 
the application.
    No take of live animals would be authorized. Sources of foreign and 
domestic parts may include subsistence harvests, captive animals, other 
authorized researchers or curated collections, bycatch from legal 
commercial fishing operations, and foreign stranded animals. Once the 
cell lines are established, they may be transferred to other 
researchers, including export to worldwide locations. The cell lines 
would not be sold for profit or used for commercial purposes. The 
permit would be valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.
    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

[[Page 30282]]

Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: May 8, 2023.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-10059 Filed 5-10-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P