Marine Mammals; File No. 29152

<NOTICE> DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE <SUBAGY>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</SUBAGY> <DEPDOC>[RTID 0648-XF221]</DEPDOC> <SUBJECT>Marine Mammals; File No. 29152</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Notice; receipt of application. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> Notice is hereby given that Adam Gilbertsen, University of Minnesota, 689 23rd Avenue Southeast, MRF Room 1-151, Minneapolis, MN 55455, has applied in due form for a permit to import, export, and receive marine mammal parts for scientific research. </SUM> <DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> Written comments must be received on or before October 29, 2025. </DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> 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 home page, <E T="03">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov,</E> and then selecting File No. 29152 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request via email to <E T="03">NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.</E> Written comments on this application should be submitted via email to <E T="03">NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.</E> Please include File No. 29152 in the subject line of the email comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request via email to <E T="03">NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.</E> The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., or Jennifer Skidmore, (301) 427-8401. </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 <E T="03">et seq.</E> ), 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 <E T="03">et seq.</E> ), 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 <E T="03">et seq.</E> ). The applicant requests a 5-year research permit to import, export, and receive marine mammal parts to derive, cryopreserve, and characterize cell lines for comparative virology experiments. Parts from up to 30 cetaceans and 30 pinnipeds, excluding walrus, per year may be obtained from the following foreign or domestic legal sources: other researchers, captive animals, subsistence harvests, bycatch in legal fisheries, museums, scientific collections, and foreign stranded animals. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 <E T="03">et seq.</E> ), 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 <E T="04">Federal Register</E> , NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors. <SIG> <DATED>Dated: September 25, 2025.</DATED> <NAME>Shannon Bettridge,</NAME> Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. </SIG> </SUPLINF> <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2025-18867 Filed 9-26-25; 8:45 am]</FRDOC> </NOTICE>