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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15190-15191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06449]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD826

Marine Mammals; File No. 17967

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 Minnesota Zoological Gardens, 
13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124, has applied in due form 
for a permit to conduct research on and enhancement of Hawaiian monk 
seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi) in captivity.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 22, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by

[[Page 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 [email protected]. 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
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