Emergency Exemption: Issuance of Permit for Endangered Marine Mammals

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of emergency issuance of permit for endangered marine mammals. SUMMARY: The following permit was issued. ADDRESSES: Documents and other information submitted for this application are available for review by any party who submits a written request to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, Virginia 22203; fax (703) 358-2281. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Division of Management Authority, telephone 703/358-2104. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 31, 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) issued a permit (PRT-067519) to Red Caribena de Varamientos (Caribbean Stranding Network, Inc.), San Juan, Puerto Rico, to import one West Indian manatee ( Trichechus manatus ) found in distress in the waters around Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, for rehabilitation and reintroduction purposes. This action was authorized under Section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 , et seq. ) and Sections 104 and 109(h) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended ( 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. ). The Service determined that an emergency affecting the health and life of the manatee existed, and that no reasonable alternative was available. On January, 17, 2003, the manatee was discovered in distress (dehydrated and emaciated) off Virgin Gorda and Tortol…