[Federal Register: August 10, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 154)]
[Notices]
[Page 45778-45779]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10au06-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 080206D]
Marine Mammals; File No. 1097-1859
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 Coral World (V.I.), Inc., 6450
Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, 00802-1800, (Gertrude J.
Prior, Responsible Party) has applied in due form for a permit to
import four South American (Patagonian) sea lions (Otaria flavescens)
for public display.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before September 11, 2006.
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)427-2521; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg,
Florida 33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427-2521,
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for
providing e-mail comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier:
File No. 1097-1859.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Swails or Jennifer Skidmore,
(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).
The applicant requests authorization to import four male South
American sea lions from International Sea Lion Search and Rescue, Koh
Samui, Thailand to Coral World Ocean Park in St. Thomas, Virgin
Islands. The applicant requests this import for the purposes of public
display. The receiving facility is aware of the public display criteria
for holding marine mammals for public display and their obligation to
demonstrate said criteria prior to acquiring these animals. Coral
World's programs are open to the public on regularly scheduled basis
with access that is not limited or restricted other than by charging
for an admission fee. Coral World offers an educational program based
on professionally accepted standards and is in the process of receiving
an
[[Page 45779]]
Exhibitor's License, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under
the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 2131 - 59). The applicant
has completed the license inspection and paid the licensing fee.
In addition to determining whether the applicant meets the three
public display criteria, NMFS must determine whether the applicant has
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 applicant's expertise, facilities
and resources are adequate to accomplish successfully the objectives
and activities stated in the application.
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: August 4, 2006.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-13100 Filed 8-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S