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###### Department of Commerce

###### National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

          - [I.D. 081806E]

# AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

# ACTION:

Notice; issuance of permit.

# SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (The Alliance), 418 North Pitt Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (Kristi West, Ph.D., Principal Investigator) has been issued a permit to import and export parts from all cetaceans and pinniped species (excluding walrus) for purposes of scientific research.

# ADDRESSES:

                        The application and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment (See                         **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**                        ).                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Skidmore or Amy Sloan, (301)713-2289.

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

                    On November 17, 2005, notice was published in the                     **Federal Register**                     (70 FR 69743) that a request for a scientific research permit had been submitted by the above-named organization. The requested permit has been issued 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 part 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 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 Alliance has been issued a scientific research permit to receive, import and export a specified number of marine mammal specimens (cetaceans and pinnipeds, except for walrus) under the jurisdiction of NMFS to study and document the health and biology of wild marine mammals as well as those marine mammals maintained in public display, research, or stranding facilities or from samples taken during other permitted research. Only specimens collected legally and in a humane manner would be authorized by the permit. Sources of samples may include animals that have already died and from captive animals during routine husbandry procedures. No animals may be intentionally killed for the purpose of collecting specimens, and no money can be offered for the specimens. Specimens may be taken world-wide at anytime of the year for up to five years.

                    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 permit, 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,                           ( print page 13093)                        NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376;                     *http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/​pr/​permits/​review.htm*;                

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., Rm 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)973-2935; fax (808)973-2941;

Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371; and

Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.

Dated: March 14, 2007.

P. Michael Payne,

Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. E7-5053 Filed 3-19-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-S