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###### Department of Commerce

###### National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

          - RIN 0648-XG345

# AGENCY:

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

# ACTION:

Notice; receipt of application.

# 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 biological samples from marine mammals, sea turtles, and protected sharks for scientific research purposes.

# DATES:

Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before August 20, 2018.

# 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. 21329 from the list of available applications.                    

These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment in the Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376.

                        Written comments on this application should be submitted to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by email to                         *NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.*                         Please include the File No. 21329 in the subject line of the email comment.                    

Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the address listed above. 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 specimens from marine mammals, sea turtles, and protected 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, and protected 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 species is outlined in the take tables in the application.

No take of live wild animals would be involved; tissues would be received from the following sources: Marine mammals or sharks stranded dead or that died during rehabilitation; captive marine mammals or sharks held for public display or research; marine mammals and sharks taken in a legal fishery; marine mammals, sea turtles, or sharks sampled by other permitted researchers; and marine mammals or sharks killed during legal subsistence hunts. Once the cell lines are established, they may be transferred to other researchers for scientific research, including export to world-wide locations. The cell lines would not be sold for profit or used for commercial purposes. The requested duration of the permit is 5 years.

                    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 Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.                

Dated: July 16, 2018.

Julia Marie Harrison,

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

[FR Doc. 2018-15459 Filed 7-18-18; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P