[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22563-22564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9088]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB159


Marine Mammals; File No. 17217

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Saint Louis Zoo, 1 Government 
Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110, has applied in due form for a permit to 
import four harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) for the purposes of public 
display.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before May 16, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available upon 
written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, 
Florida 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f1112190c710f2d6e1c3032323a312b2c1f31303e3e71383029"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0fefdf6e39ee0c281f3dfddddd5dec4c3f0dedfd1d19ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include the File No. 17217 
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 Colette Cairns, 
(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.), and the regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests authorization to import four female harbor 
seals from the Storybrook Gardens, 1958 Storybrook Lane, London, 
Ontario, N6K 4Y6, Canada for purposes of public display at the St. 
Louis Zoo. The receiving facility: (1) Is open to the public on 
regularly scheduled basis with access that is not limited or restricted 
other than by charging an admission fee; (2) offers an educational 
program based on professionally recognized standards; and (3) holds an 
Exhibitor's License, number 43-C-0032, issued by the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131--59). The 
import would occur upon receipt of the permit and the permit would 
expire one year after the date of issuance.
    In addition to determining whether the applicant meets the three 
public display criteria, NMFS must determine

[[Page 22564]]

whether the applicant has demonstrated that the proposed activity is 
humane and does not represent any unnecessary risks to the health and 
welfare of marine mammals; that the proposed activity by itself, or in 
combination with other activities, will not likely have a significant 
adverse impact on the species or stock; and that the applicant's 
expertise, facilities and resources are adequate to accomplish 
successfully the objectives and activities stated in the application.
    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: April 11, 2012.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-9088 Filed 4-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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