[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40050-40051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19655]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 072197F]
Marine Mammals; Public Display Permit (PHF# 870-1391)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of application.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that M&M Amusement Park, Calle Gilberto
Rolin L16, Caguas, PR 00725, has applied in due form for a permit to
import three South American sea lions (Otaria flavescents) and two
Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), currently in the
custody of Ricardo Roca, Waterland - Mundo Marino, Valle, Colombia, for
purposes of a traveling public display exhibit in several Puerto Rican
cities.
DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before
August 25, 1997.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910,
(301/713-2289); and
Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9731 Executive
Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702, (206/526-6150).
Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this
application, should be mailed to the Chief, Permits and Documentation
Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway,
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. The holding of such a hearing is at the
discretion of the Director, Office of Protected Resources.
Written comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301) 713-
0376, provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by
mail and postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment
period. Please note that comments will not be accepted by email or
other electronic media.
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.
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 five marine mammals,
from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where they are currently on
tour, to Puerto Rico for a similar traveling exhibit in the cities of
San Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez. The applicant has applied for an
Exhibitor's License from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Animal Welfare
Act. APHIS has conducted a pre-licensing inspection of the proposed
site at Parque Luis Munoz Marin, Hato Rey, San Juan, and each
subsequent site will be inspected by APHIS prior to the transport of
the marine mammals. As any issues relating to the care and maintenance
of captive marine mammals are within the purview of APHIS, under the
AWA, a copy of the application is also being sent to APHIS for review.
Each exhibit site will be open to the public on a regularly
scheduled basis with access that is not limited or restricted other
than by charging an admission fee and will offer an educational
program.
In addition to determining whether the applicant meets the public
display criteria provided in sec. 104 (2)(a)(i-iii) of the MMPA, NMFS
must determine whether the applicant has demonstrated that the proposed
activity is humane and does not present 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.
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.
[[Page 40051]]
Dated: July 18, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-19655 Filed 7-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
