[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 78 (Thursday, April 24, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 17244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-07070]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE815]


Marine Mammals; File No. 28533

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Leslie 
Hart, Ph.D., College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 
29424 to import, export, and receive marine mammal parts for scientific 
research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request via email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., or Carrie 
Hubard, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 17, 2024, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (89 FR 102118) that a request for a permit to 
import, export, and receive marine mammal parts for scientific research 
had been submitted by the above-named applicant. 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 was issued on March 25, 2025 and is valid through March 
31, 2030 and authorizes receipt, import, and export of parts from up to 
700 individual cetaceans and 700 individual pinnipeds (excluding 
walrus) annually to investigate exposure to environmental 
microplastics.
    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.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit 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: April 21, 2025.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-07070 Filed 4-23-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P