[Federal Register: February 21, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 35)]
[Notices]               
[Page 8518]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21fe03-42]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 
Emergency Exemption: Issuance of Permit for Endangered Marine 
Mammals

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of emergency issuance of permit for endangered marine 
mammals.

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SUMMARY: The following permit was issued.

ADDRESSES: Documents and other information submitted for this 
application are available for review by any party who submits a written 
request to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management 
Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, Virginia 
22203; fax (703) 358-2281.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Division of Management Authority, 
telephone 703/358-2104.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 31, 2003, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Service) issued a permit (PRT-067519) to Red Caribena 
de Varamientos (Caribbean Stranding Network, Inc.), San Juan, Puerto 
Rico, to import one West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) found in 
distress in the waters around Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, for 
rehabilitation and reintroduction purposes. This action was authorized 
under Section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.) and Sections 104 and 109(h) of the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). The 
Service determined that an emergency affecting the health and life of 
the manatee existed, and that no reasonable alternative was available.
    On January, 17, 2003, the manatee was discovered in distress 
(dehydrated and emaciated) off Virgin Gorda and Tortola, BVI. The BVI 
Department of Conservation and Fisheries requested assistance from the 
applicant and the Service for relocating and rehabilitating the 
manatee. The manatee will be placed at the Caribbean Stranding 
Network's rehabilitation center at Caribbean Marine Mammal Laboratory, 
Universidad Metropolitana (a manatee rehabilitation facility endorsed 
by the Service's Jacksonville Field Office under MMPA/ESA enhancement 
permit PRT-770191). The goal of the importation is to rehabilitate and 
release the animal back into the wild as soon as feasible.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has information collection 
approval from OMB through March 31, 2004, OMB Control Number 1018-0093. 
Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
current valid OMB control number.

    Dated: February 11, 2003.
Charlie R. Chandler,
Chief, Branch of Permits--Domestic, Division of Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 03-4303 Filed 2-19-03; 1:47 pm]

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