2023-03036. Marine Mammals; File No. 27049

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice; receipt of application.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that Cristy Gonzalez Barrientos, DVM, Texas A&M University, TVMDL, 2711 Wilderness Drive North, College Station, TX 77845, has applied in due form for a permit to import, export, and receive marine mammal parts for scientific research.

DATES:

Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before March 15, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

The application and related documents are available for review by selecting “Records Open for Public Comment” from the “Features” box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 27049 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request via email to [e-mail].

Written comments on this application should be submitted via email to [e-mail]. Please include File No. 27049 in the subject line of the email comment.

Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request via email to [e-mail]. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D. or Courtney Smith, Ph.D., [phone].

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.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).

The applicant requests a 5-year permit to study Brucellosis in cetaceans. Parts may be received, imported, and exported from up to 500 individual cetaceans that stranded or are in rehabilitation in Costa Rica, annually. The applicant may also import and export lung nematodes, which may contain cetacean DNA, collected from up to 500 stranded cetaceans in Costa Rica, annually. In addition, parts previously imported from Costa Rica under a separate permit from 34 striped dolphins ( Stenella coeruleoalba), one long-beaked common dolphin ( Delphinus capensis), and one dwarf sperm whale ( Kogia sima) would be transferred to this permit.

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 the application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

Dated: February 7, 2023.

Julia M. Harrison,

Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.