[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 127 (Friday, July 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38457-38458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16193]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XX14
Marine Mammals; File No. 15511
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 SeaWorld, LLC., 9205 South Center
Loop, Suite 400 Orlando, FL 32819, has applied in due form for a permit
to import one short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) for
public display.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before August 2, 2010.
ADDRESSES: The application 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; and
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018.
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 File No. 15511 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 permit is 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).
SeaWorld, LLC. requests authorization to import one male short-
finned pilot whale to SeaWorld California for the purpose of public
display. This animal was rescued by the Southern Caribbean Cetacean
Network in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, and was imported to SeaWorld
California on January 4, 2010, under Cooperative Agreement No. 2009-02.
The animal has been determined to be non-releaseable to the wild and
will be maintained at SeaWorld California for public display. SeaWorld
California: (1) is open to the public on a 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 93-C-
0069, 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
[[Page 38458]]
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 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: June 28, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-16193 Filed 7-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S