[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57903-57904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21689]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[I.D. 081104G]


Marine Mammals; NMFS Permit No. 764-1703-01; USFWS Permit No. 
MA068532

AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce; U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS), Interior.

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that The National Museum of Natural 
History, Department of Systematic Biology, MRC 108, P.O. Box 37012, 
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 [Charles Potter, Principal Investigator], 
has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 764-
1703-00.

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s): See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Jennifer Skidmore, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 9, 2003, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (68 FR 58316) that a request for a joint NMFS/
USFWS scientific research permit to collect, obtain, and import/export 
samples taken from marine mammals of the Orders Pinnipedia, Cetacea, 
Sirenia; and Carnivora (marine and sea otters) had been submitted by 
the above-named organization. The permit amendment has been granted 
under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations Governing the Taking 
and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR parts 18 and 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

[[Page 57904]]

and threatened species (50 CFR parts 17 and 222-226), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    On February 5, 2004, a permit was issued to take only those species 
under the jurisdiction of the NMFS. This permit amendment allows The 
National Museum of Natural History to salvage and collect, import/
export samples, whole carcasses, hard and soft parts from the above 
mentioned species that are under USFWS jurisdiction, including polar 
bear that were inadvertently omitted from the original Federal Register 
notice. No live animal takes are authorized.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Issuance of this amendment, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376;
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907)586-7221; fax (907)586-7249;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018;
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)973-2937; fax (808)973-2941;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371;
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320; and
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, VA 22203 (1-800-358-
2104).

    Dated: September 16, 2004.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

    Dated: September 16, 2004.
Charlie R. Chandler,
Chief, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-21689 Filed 9-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S