[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17949-17950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-07472]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2024-N019; FXES11140400000-256-FF04E00000]


Marine Mammal Protection Act; Receipt of Permit Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have 
received applications for permits to conduct activities with marine 
mammal species for which the Service has jurisdiction under the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). We invite the public and local, State, 
Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before 
issuing any of the requested permits, we will take into consideration 
any information that we receive during the public comment period.

DATES: We must receive written data or comments on the applications by 
May 30, 2025.

ADDRESSES: 
    Reviewing Documents: Submit requests for copies of applications and 
other information submitted with the applications to Karen Marlowe (see 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). All requests and comments should 
specify the applicant name and application number (e.g., Mary Smith, 
ESPER0001234).
    Submitting Comments: If you wish to comment, you may submit 
comments by one of the following methods:
     Email (preferred method): [email protected]. Please 
include your name and return address in your email message. If you do 
not receive a confirmation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that 
we have received your email message, contact us directly at the 
telephone number listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
     U.S. mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office, 
Ecological Services, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345 (Attn: 
Karen Marlowe, Permit Coordinator).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Marlowe, Permit Coordinator, 
404-679-7097 (telephone) or [email protected] (email). Individuals 
in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have 
a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United 
States should use the relay services offered within their country to 
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
invite review and comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and 
Federal agencies on applications we have received for permits to 
conduct certain activities with marine mammals under section 104 of the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and 
our regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 
18. Documents and other information submitted with the applications are 
available for review, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act of 
1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), and the Freedom of Information Act (5 
U.S.C. 552).

Background

    To help us carry out our conservation responsibilities for affected 
species, and in consideration of section 104(c) of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), we 
invite public comments on permit applications before final action is 
taken. With some exceptions, the MMPA prohibits certain activities with 
listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such 
activities. Service regulations regarding permits for any activity 
otherwise prohibited by the MMPA with respect to any marine mammals are 
available in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations in part 18.

Permit Applications Available for Review and Comment

    The MMPA requires that we invite public comment before issuing 
these permits. Accordingly, we invite local, State, Tribal, and Federal 
agencies, and the public to submit written data, views, or arguments 
with respect to these applications. The comments and recommendations 
that will be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are 
those supported by quantitative information or studies.

[[Page 17950]]



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 Permit application No.        Applicant              Species                Location               Activity           Type of take       Permit action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER9200956.............  Caribbean Stranding   West Indian manatee   Puerto Rico............  Scientific research  Capture; handle;     New.
                          Network; Bayamon,     (Trichechus                                    and population       photograph;
                          PR.                   manatus).                                      monitoring.          measure; radio
                                                                                                                    tag; collect blood
                                                                                                                    and tissue
                                                                                                                    samples; PIT-tag;
                                                                                                                    tail-notch biopsy
                                                                                                                    mark; release; and
                                                                                                                    necropsy and post-
                                                                                                                    mortem tissue
                                                                                                                    analysis.
MA773494-12............  Florida Fish and      West Indian manatee   Florida................  Scientific research  Capture, handle,     Renewal.
                          Wildlife              (Trichechus                                    and population       PIT-tag, freeze
                          Conservation          manatus).                                      monitoring.          brand, and attach
                          Commission; St.                                                                           external tracking
                          Petersburg, FL.                                                                           and monitoring
                                                                                                                    equipment; take
                                                                                                                    blood, milk, and
                                                                                                                    tissue samplings;
                                                                                                                    ultrasound, swab,
                                                                                                                    take measurements
                                                                                                                    and temperatures,
                                                                                                                    photograph,
                                                                                                                    restrict small
                                                                                                                    seagrass plots
                                                                                                                    with exclosures,
                                                                                                                    replace external
                                                                                                                    equipment, and
                                                                                                                    salvage carcasses.
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Public Availability of Comments

    Written comments we receive become part of the administrative 
record associated with this action. Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their 
entirety.

Next Steps

    If we decide to issue a permit to an applicant listed in this 
notice, we will publish a notice in the Federal Register.

Authority

    We publish this notice under section 104(d) of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and its 
implementing regulations.

Mike Oetker,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2025-07472 Filed 4-29-25; 8:45 am]
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