Marine Mammals; File No. 18523, 72631 [2014-28676]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 235 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 72631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28676]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD340


Marine Mammals; File No. 18523

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 a permit has been issued to 
Heather Liwanag, Ph.D., Adelphi University, Biology Department, 1 South 
Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530, to receive, import, and export marine 
mammal specimens for scientific research purposes.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 2, 2014, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (79 FR 37719) that a request for a permit to receive, 
import, and export marine mammal specimens for scientific research had 
been submitted by the above-named applicant. The requested permit has 
been issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (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 parts 222-226), and the 
Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 18523-00 authorizes the holder to receive, import, and 
export unlimited samples from up to 1,500 individuals of each species 
of cetacean, and from up to 1,500 individuals of each species of 
pinniped (excluding walrus), annually. Marine mammal samples may be 
obtained from the following sources: (1) Animals killed during legal 
subsistence harvests; (2) animals that died incidental to legal 
commercial fishing operations; (3) animals stranded in foreign 
countries; (4) samples collected from captive animals; and (5) samples 
from other authorized researchers and collections. Samples collected 
from stranded animals in the U.S. and received under separate 
authorization may be exported and re-imported. The permit expires on 
October 31, 2019.
    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.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit 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: December 2, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-28676 Filed 12-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P