[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 97 (Thursday, May 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28239-28240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12123]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XW51


Marine Mammals; File No. 15537

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 Institute for Marine Mammal 
Studies (IMMS), P.O. Box 207, Gulfport, MS 39502 (Dr. Moby Solangi, 
Responsible Party), has applied in due form for a permit to obtain 
stranded, releasable California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) from 
the National Marine Mammal Stranding Response Program for the purposes 
of public display.

DATES:  Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
June 21, 2010.

ADDRESSES:  The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301) 713-2289; fax (301) 713-0376; and

[[Page 28240]]

    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 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#eea0a3a8bdc0be9cdfad8183838b809a9dae80818f8fc0898198"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7f9faf1e499e7c586f4d8dadad2d9c3c4f7d9d8d6d699d0d8c1">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include the File 
No. in the subject line of the email comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jennifer Skidmore or Amy Sloan, (301) 
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking and 
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant is requesting a permit to take releasable stranded 
California sea lions (two males and six females) from west coast 
stranding facilities for public display purposes. IMMS is the only 
marine mammal public display facility in the states of Mississippi and 
Alabama. The receiving facility, IMMS is: (1) open to the public on 
regularly scheduled basis with access that is not limited or restricted 
other than by charging for an admission fee; (2) offers an educational 
program that is consistent with professional recognized standards of 
informal education in aquaria and zoos across America, including the 
Association of Zoos and Aquariums; and (3) holds an Exhibitor's 
License, number 65-C-0540, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  2131-59). IMMS will 
also consider non-releasable sea lions and each animal will be 
evaluated on a case by case basis. The permit is requested for five 
years.
    In addition to determining whether the applicant meets the three 
public display criteria, NMFS must determine 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.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: May 14, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-12123 Filed 5-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S


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