Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 55 / Monday, March 23, 2015 / Notices 15191 

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. 17967 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. 17967 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: 

Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, (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 222–226). 

The Minnesota Zoological Gardens 

(MZG) proposes to maintain up to eight 

non-releasable Hawaiian monk seals for 

research and enhancement purposes. 

This would include five female monk 

seals (currently being held at Sea World 

San Antonio) and any other captive or 

future non-releasable female monk seals 

taken under separate permit. The five 

seals currently at Sea World were 

collected from the wild for 

rehabilitation under an enhancement 

permit and deemed non-releasable due 

to an eye disease of unknown etiology; 

maintaining these seals in captivity 

would prevent the potential 

transmission of disease to the wild 

population. Proposed research on the 

captive seals includes the following: (1) 

Annually, blood samples and nasal 

swabs taken during routine health 

assessments will be analyzed for 

presence of West Nile virus, canine 

distemper virus, and phocine distemper 

virus in seals previously vaccinated; (2) 

various sedatives will be tested on the 

seals during routine health assessments 

to inform use in the wild population; 

and (3) seals may be used in research 

projects authorized under separate 

permits (e.g., vaccination testing, 

remotely administrating sedatives, new 

capture techniques). MZG proposes to 

maintain the seals for the duration of 

their lives and will continue public 

awareness on the status of the species 

through education and public 

observation of the seals. The permit is 

requested for the maximum 5-year 

period. 

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: March 17, 2015. 

Julia Harrison, 

Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, 

Office of Protected Resources, National 

Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–06449 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XD835 

Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery 

Management Council’s (Pacific Council) 

Groundfish Management Team (GMT) 

will hold a conference call that is open 

to the public. To attend the GMT 

teleconference, participants need to dial 

the following toll-free phone number: 

(888) 283–0166; Passcode: 4432591. 

DATES: The GMT meeting will be held 

Tuesday, April 7, 2015, from 1 p.m. 

until business for the day is completed. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held 

via conference call with a listening 

station provided at the Pacific Council 

Office, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, 

Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220–1384; 

telephone: (503) 820–2280. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Kelly Ames, Pacific Council; telephone: 

(503) 820–2426. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

primary purpose of the GMT working 

meeting is to prepare for the April 2015 

Council meeting. Specific agenda topics 

include NOAA’s proposed revisions to 

National Standards 1, 3, and 7; a review 

of the latest West Coast Groundfish 

Observer Program data; inseason 

adjustments to groundfish fisheries 

including carryover for the shorebased 

individual fishing quota program; 

further consideration for flexible 

management of annual catch limit setasides; and comments on a Council 

Operating Procedure for methodology 

reviews. The GMT may also address 

other assignments relating to groundfish 

management. No management actions 

will be decided by the GMT. Public 

comment will be accommodated if time 

allows, at the discretion of the GMT 

Chair. The GMT’s task will be to 

develop recommendations for 

consideration by the Pacific Council at 

its April 10–16, 2015 meeting in 

Rohnert Park, CA. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in the meeting agenda may be 

discussed, those issues may not be the 

subject of formal action during this 

meeting. Action will be restricted to 

those issues specifically listed in this 

document and any issues arising after 

publication of this document that 

require emergency action under section 

305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act, 

provided the public has been notified of 

the intent to take final action to address 

the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

The meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. 

Kris Kleinschmidt at (503) 820–2425 at 

least 5 days prior to the meeting date. 

Dated: March 17, 2015. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–06435 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

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