Notice2026-03186

Marine Mammals and Endangered Species

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
February 18, 2026

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Abstract

Notice is hereby given that permits, permit amendments, and permit modifications have been issued under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as applicable.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 7447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03186]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XF514]


Marine Mammals and Endangered Species

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits, permit amendments, and permit 
modifications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits, permit amendments, and 
permit modifications have been issued under the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as 
applicable.

ADDRESSES: The permits and related documents are available for review 
upon written request via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dc92919a8ff28caeed9fb3b1b1b9b2a8af9cb2b3bdbdf2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aee0e3e8fd80fedc9fedc1c3c3cbc0daddeec0c1cfcf80c9c1d8">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Courtney Smith, Ph.D. (File No. 
26599), Sara Young (File No. 28810), Erin Markin, Ph.D. (File No. 
29010), and Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D. (File No. 29182); at (301) 427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested permits have been issued under 
the MMPA 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 ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), as 
applicable. Notices were published in the Federal Register on the dates 
listed below that requests had been submitted. To locate the Federal 
Register notice that announced our receipt of the application and a 
complete description of the activities, go to <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov">https://www.federalregister.gov</a> and search for the file number provided in 
table 1 below.

                      Table 1--Issued Permits, Permit Amendments, and Permit Modifications
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                                                                             Previous Federal
      File No.         Version No.          RTID             Applicant       Register notice     Issuance date
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26599..............              01  0648-XC426........  Florian Graner,    87 FR 65040,       December 9, 2025.
                                                          Ph.D., Sea-Life    October 27, 2022.
                                                          Productions,
                                                          4021 Beach
                                                          Drive, Freeland,
                                                          WA 98249.
28810..............             N/A  0648-XE875........  NMFS Marine        90 FR 35284, July  January 9, 2026.
                                                          Mammal             25, 2025.
                                                          Laboratory, 7600
                                                          Sand Point Way
                                                          NE, Seattle, WA
                                                          98115
                                                          (Responsible
                                                          Party: Nancy
                                                          Friday).
29010..............              01  0648-XF251........  Caribbean Oceanic  90 FR 52357,       January 22, 2026.
                                                          Restoration and    November 20,
                                                          Education          2025.
                                                          Foundation, 2608
                                                          Fish Bay, St.
                                                          John, VI 00830
                                                          (Responsible
                                                          Party: Rebecca
                                                          Gibbel, DVM).
29182..............             N/A  0648-XF380........  Shayna Orens,      90 FR 57952,       January 23, 2026.
                                                          Cornell            December 15,
                                                          University, 235    2025.
                                                          Hungerford Hill
                                                          Rd., Ithaca, NY
                                                          14850.
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    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 
activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    As required by the ESA, as applicable, issuance of these permits 
was based on a finding that such permits: (1) were applied for in good 
faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered 
species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set 
forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: February 13, 2026.
Shannon Bettridge,
Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-03186 Filed 2-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on February 18, 2026.

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