2013-20231. Marine Mammals; File No. 17429

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice; receipt of application.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that Sea Life Park Hawaii, 41-202 Kalanianaole Highway Waimanalo, HI 96795 (Jerry Pupillo, Responsible Party), has applied in due form for a permit to maintain non-releasable Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) in captivity for enhancement purposes.

DATES:

Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before September 19, 2013.

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. 17429 from the list of available applications.

These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:

Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone [phone]; fax [phone]; and

Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Room 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone [phone]; fax [phone].

Written comments on this application should be submitted to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to [phone], or by email to [e-mail]. Please include File No. 17429 in the subject line of the email comment.

Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, [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 222-226).

Sea Life Park Hawaii proposes to continue to maintain and provide routine animal husbandry and veterinary care for one non-releasable adult Hawaiian monk seal and up to an additional three seals (four total, considering future non-releasable seals) at the monk seal exhibit at Sea Life Park Hawaii in Waimanalo, Hawaii. Sea Life Park would maintain in permanent captivity seals removed from the wild under separate permits for stranding response and enhancement, which are deemed non-releasable to the wild.

The animals will be made available for scientific studies by researchers whose research protocols are approved by the Sea Life Park Hawaii Curator and staff veterinarian and authorized under separate permits. A public conservation and education lecture will be conducted daily concerning the status of Hawaiian monk seals, and educational descriptive signs with current information are on display at the monk seal exhibit. The applicant requests a five-year 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: August 15, 2013.

P. Michael Payne,

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