General Permit for Ocean Disposal of Marine Mammal Carcasses

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to issue a general permit to authorize any officer, employee, agent, department, agency, or instrumentality of federal, state, tribal, or local unit of government, as well as any Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) Stranding Agreement Holder, and any Alaska Native subsistence user to transport from the United States and dispose of marine mammal carcasses in ocean waters. EPA's purpose in proposing a general permit is to expedite required authorizations that otherwise currently require the issuance of an emergency permit for the ocean disposal of marine mammal carcasses. EPA also proposes permit terms that would apply for at sea disposal of marine mammal carcasses generally by governmental entities (and MMHSRP Agreement Holders), as well as by Alaska Native subsistence users based on circumstances specific to the remote locations of such disposals. The EPA invites public comment on all aspects of this proposed general permit.