Marine Mammals; File No. 10040

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Federal RegisterDec 3, 2007
72 Fed. Reg. 67914 (Dec. 3, 2007)

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice; issuance of permit.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that Gary Matson, Matson's Laboratory, LLC, PO Box 308, 8140 Flagler Road, Milltown, MT 5985, has been issued a scientific research permit to receive, import and export marine mammal specimens for scientific research.

ADDRESSES:

The permit and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:

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

Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206)526-6150; fax (206)526-6426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Skidmore or Amy Sloan, (301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On September 11, 2007, notice was published in the Federal Register (72 FR 51803) that a request for a scientific research permit had been submitted by the above-named organization. The requested permit has been issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (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.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).

The permit authorizes the receipt, import and export of teeth and prepared microscope slides obtained from seal and sea lion species, except walrus (Order Pinnipedia). The Matson Laboratory provides age related data to researchers and biologists. Age data are used in population modeling, with age structure an indicator of population condition. Teeth are sent to the laboratory for cementum age analysis. The number of teeth varies depending upon the nature of the project, from a single tooth to several hundred from a legal harvest; no more than 2000 teeth will be analyzed annually. Import and export authority is requested for all locations wherever pinnipeds occur and are the subject of government-authorized research and/or harvest. Principally, these locations are expected to be those within the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada. There will be no incidental takes of non-target species. A permit has been issued for five years.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permit: (1) was applied for in good faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

Dated: November 26, 2007.

P. Michael Payne,

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

[FR Doc. E7-23387 Filed 11-30-07; 8:45 am]

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