[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13092-13093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5053]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081806E]


Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File No. 1076-1789

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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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,

[[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