The public comment period for the NMFS Marine Mammal Stranding
Regulations Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking has been extended
until April 30, 2008.
Marine Mammal Stranding Regulations Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
The Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS, is considering proposing changes to its
implementing regulations governing the taking of stranded marine mammals
under section 109(h), section 112(c), and Title IV of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA). We have published an Advanced Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (ANPR) in the Federal Register and are soliciting review and
comment to better inform the process. The ANPR and MMPA implementing
regulations (50 CFR part 216) can be found at
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/mmpa_anpr.htm.
A final rule was published (39 FR 1852, January 15, 1974, as amended at
56 FR 41307, August 20, 1991) establishing requirements for the taking
of stranded marine mammals by State or local government officials in the
course of their official duties. This includes the taking of live
marine mammals, salvaging marine mammal specimens from dead animals, and
transferring marine mammal specimens within and outside of the U.S. A
final rule was published (61 FR 21933, May 10, 1996) establishing
release requirements for rehabilitated marine mammals and procedures for
the disposition of non-releasable rehabilitated marine mammals.
The ANPR solicits general input from the public on how NMFS could
streamline, clarify, or change the requirements and procedures for
responding to stranded marine mammals and for determining the
disposition of marine mammals, which includes procedures for the
placement of non-releasable animals and for authorizing the retention of
releasable rehabilitated marine mammals for scientific research,
enhancement, or public display. The ANPR provides some recommendations
for changes to the MMPA regulations but is not considered
comprehensive. The ANPR will be followed by a proposed rulemaking once
comments are received and reviewed.
Please provide comments by the close of the comment period (April 30,
2008). Comments may be submitted as follows:
. By mail to: Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division
Attn: Stranding Regulations ANPR
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS
1315 East-West Highway
Room 13635
Silver Spring, MD 20910
. By facsimile at (301) 427-2522
. Electronic submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via
the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov
For further information please contact Sarah Howlett
([EMAIL PROTECTED]) or David Cottingham ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
by email or at (301) 713-2322.
--
Sarah Howlett
Fishery Biologist
National Marine Fisheries Service
Office of Protected Resources
1315 East-West Highway, Rm 3504
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Ph: (301) 713-2322 ext. 202
Fax: (301) 427-2522
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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