80 FR 15190 - Marine Mammals; File No. 17967

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 55 (March 23, 2015)

Page Range		15190-15191
FR Document		2015-06449

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.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 55 (Monday, March 23, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15190-15191]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[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 NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. 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

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 55 / Monday, March 23, 2015 / Notices 15191

selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public presence of West Nile virus, canine station provided at the Pacific Council
Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on distemper virus, and phocine distemper Office, 7700 NE Ambassador Place,
the Applications and Permits for virus in seals previously vaccinated; (2) Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220–1384;
Protected Species (APPS) home page, various sedatives will be tested on the telephone: (503) 820–2280.
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then seals during routine health assessments
selecting File No. 17967 from the list of to inform use in the wild population; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
available applications. and (3) seals may be used in research Kelly Ames, Pacific Council; telephone:
These documents are also available projects authorized under separate (503) 820–2426.
upon written request or by appointment permits (e.g., vaccination testing, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
in the Permits and Conservation remotely administrating sedatives, new primary purpose of the GMT working
Division, Office of Protected Resources, capture techniques). MZG proposes to meeting is to prepare for the April 2015
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room maintain the seals for the duration of
Council meeting. Specific agenda topics
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone their lives and will continue public
include NOAA’s proposed revisions to
(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. awareness on the status of the species
through education and public National Standards 1, 3, and 7; a review
Written comments on this application
should be submitted to the Chief, observation of the seals. The permit is of the latest West Coast Groundfish
Permits and Conservation Division, at requested for the maximum 5-year Observer Program data; inseason
the address listed above. Comments may period. adjustments to groundfish fisheries
also be submitted by facsimile to (301) In compliance with the National including carryover for the shorebased
713–0376, or by email to Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 individual fishing quota program;
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial further consideration for flexible
include the File No. 17967 in the subject determination has been made that the management of annual catch limit set-
line of the email comment. activity proposed is categorically asides; and comments on a Council
Those individuals requesting a public excluded from the requirement to Operating Procedure for methodology
hearing should submit a written request prepare an environmental assessment or reviews. The GMT may also address
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation environmental impact statement. other assignments relating to groundfish
Division at the address listed above. The Concurrent with the publication of management. No management actions
request should set forth the specific this notice in the Federal Register, will be decided by the GMT. Public
reasons why a hearing on this NMFS is forwarding copies of the comment will be accommodated if time
application would be appropriate. application to the Marine Mammal
allows, at the discretion of the GMT
Commission and its Committee of
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chair. The GMT’s task will be to
Scientific Advisors.
Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, (301) develop recommendations for
427–8401. Dated: March 17, 2015. consideration by the Pacific Council at
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Julia Harrison, its April 10–16, 2015 meeting in
subject permit is requested under the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Rohnert Park, CA.
authority of the Marine Mammal Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service. Although non-emergency issues not
Protection Act of 1972, as amended contained in the meeting agenda may be
[FR Doc. 2015–06449 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am]
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the discussed, those issues may not be the
regulations governing the taking and BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
subject of formal action during this
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
meeting. Action will be restricted to
part 216), the Endangered Species Act of
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE those issues specifically listed in this
1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.), the regulations governing the document and any issues arising after
National Oceanic and Atmospheric publication of this document that
taking, importing, and exporting of Administration
endangered and threatened species (50 require emergency action under section
CFR 222–226). RIN 0648–XD835 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
The Minnesota Zoological Gardens Conservation and Management Act,
(MZG) proposes to maintain up to eight Pacific Fishery Management Council; provided the public has been notified of
Public Meeting the intent to take final action to address
non-releasable Hawaiian monk seals for
research and enhancement purposes. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries the emergency.
This would include five female monk Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Special Accommodations
seals (currently being held at Sea World Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
San Antonio) and any other captive or Commerce. The meeting is physically accessible
future non-releasable female monk seals ACTION: Notice; public meeting. to people with disabilities. Requests for
taken under separate permit. The five sign language interpretation or other
seals currently at Sea World were SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery
auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr.
collected from the wild for Management Council’s (Pacific Council)
Groundfish Management Team (GMT) Kris Kleinschmidt at (503) 820–2425 at
rehabilitation under an enhancement least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
permit and deemed non-releasable due will hold a conference call that is open
to an eye disease of unknown etiology; to the public. To attend the GMT Dated: March 17, 2015.
teleconference, participants need to dial
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

maintaining these seals in captivity Tracey L. Thompson,
would prevent the potential the following toll-free phone number: Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
transmission of disease to the wild (888) 283–0166; Passcode: 4432591. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
population. Proposed research on the DATES: The GMT meeting will be held [FR Doc. 2015–06435 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am]
captive seals includes the following: (1) Tuesday, April 7, 2015, from 1 p.m.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Annually, blood samples and nasal until business for the day is completed.
swabs taken during routine health ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held
assessments will be analyzed for via conference call with a listening

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Document Created: 2018-02-21 09:47:52
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 09:47:52

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; receipt of application.
Dates		Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before April 22, 2015.
Contact		Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, (301) 427-8401.
FR Citation		80 FR 15190
RIN Number		0648-XD82

80 FR 15190 - Marine Mammals; File No. 17967

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 55 (March 23, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration