Marine Mammals; File No. 15430; Application

Federal Register: March 31, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 61)

Notices

Page 16077

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr31mr10-41

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XV58

Marine Mammals; File No. 15430

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Louisville Zoological Garden, 1100 Trevilian Way, P.O. Box 37250, Louisville, KY 40233, has applied in due form for a permit to import one South African fur seal

(Arctocephalis pusillus) for the purposes of public display.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before

April 30, 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

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 toNMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include the File

No. in the subject line of the email comment.

Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education

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: Jennifer Skidmore or Kristy Beard,

(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 requests authorization to import one female adult

South African fur seal from the Toronto Zoo, Ontario, Canada to the

Louisville Zoological Garden. The applicant requests this import for the purpose of public display. The receiving facility, the Louisville

Zoological Garden 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 based on professionally accepted standards of the Association of Zoos and

Aquariums; and (3) holds an Exhibitor's License, number 61-C-0106, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare

Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 2131 - 59).

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.

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 this application to the Marine

Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

Dated: March 26, 2010.

Tammy C. Adams,

Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of

Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

FR Doc. 2010-7257 Filed 3-30-10; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 3510-22-S