[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 84 (Monday, May 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 23242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10243]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XW21
Marine Mammals; File Nos. 15498 and 15500
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 Chicago Zoological Society -
Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513, and Georgia
Aquarium, 225 Baker Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, have each applied in
due form for a permit to import Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops
truncatus) for public display.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before June 2, 2010.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review upon written request or by appointment in the following
office(s):
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;
File No. 15498: Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930; phone (978) 281-9328; fax (978) 281-9394; and
File No. 15500: Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South,
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these
applications 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 to
[email protected]. Please include the File No. in the subject
line of the email comment. Those individuals requesting a hearing
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this particular
request would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore or Kristy Beard,
(301) 713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are requested under the
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing the
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
File No. 15498: Chicago Zoological Society requests authorization
to import one male and one female captive born bottlenose dolphin from
Dolphin Quest Bermuda, Hamilton, Bermuda, to the Brookfield Zoo,
Brookfield, IL, for the purpose of public display. The Brookfield Zoo
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 Alliance of Marine Mammal
Parks and Aquariums; and (3) holds an Exhibitor's License, number 33-C-
0003, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Animal
Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 2131 - 59).
File No. 15500: Georgia Aquarium requests authorization to import
two male captive born bottlenose dolphins from Dolphin Experience,
Ltd., Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas, and three female
captive born bottlenose dolphins from Dolphin Quest Bermuda, Hamilton,
Bermuda, to its facility in Atlanta, Georgia, for purposes of public
display. Georgia Aquarium 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 Alliance of
Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums; and (3) holds an Exhibitor's License, number 57-C-0220,
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 applicants
have 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 applicants' expertise, facilities
and resources are adequate to accomplish successfully the objectives
and activities stated in the applications.
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: April 28, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-10243 Filed 4-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S