[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 140 (Thursday, July 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36462-36463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17543]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-ZP93


Marine Mammals; File No. 14341

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

ACTION:  Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that Karen Terio, DVM, PhD, Zoological 
Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of 
Illinois, LUMC Room 0745, Building 101, 2160 South First Street, 
Maywood, IL 60153, has been issued a scientific research permit to 
import marine mammal specimens for scientific research.

ADDRESSES:  The permit 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
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9333.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 9, 2009, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (74 FR 10035) that a request for a scientific 
research permit had been submitted by the above-named individual. The 
requested permit has been issued 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.) and the regulations governing the 
taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species 
(50 CFR 222-226).
    The permit authorizes the importation of unlimited biological 
samples from up

[[Page 36463]]

to 200 individuals per year of the orders Cetacea (all species) and 
Pinnipedia (with the exception of walruses) from yet to be determined 
locations outside the U.S. All samples will be imported for diagnostic 
testing to determine the causes of outbreaks or unusual natural 
mortalities, investigations into the ecology of diseases in free-
ranging animals, or unexpected mortalities in captive populations. All 
biological specimens will originate from animals found deceased in 
nature, collected opportunistically during the animals' capture by 
other researchers possessing permits for such activities, or from 
specimens legally held in captivity outside the U.S.A. No live animals 
will be taken from the wild for research. The permit is issued for a 
period of five years.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: July 17, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-17543 Filed 7-22-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S