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Notice2026-18621

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
September 11, 2026

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Abstract

Notice is hereby given that permits 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 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57862-57863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18621]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XF963]


Marine Mammals and Endangered Species

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits, including amendments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits 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#9fd1d2d9ccb1cfedaedcf0f2f2faf1ebecdff1f0fefeb1f8f0e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9ed0d3d8cdb0ceecafddf1f3f3fbf0eaeddef0f1ffffb0f9f1e8">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D. (File Nos. 
25740, 25885, and 29287), Amy Hapeman (File No. 25563), Courtney Smith, 
Ph.D. (File No. 25508), and Jennifer Skidmore (File No. 24054); 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
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                                                                                                             Previous Federal
       File No.          Version No.             RTID                           Applicant                    Register notice           Issuance date
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24054................              01  0648-XB503..............  Terrie Williams, Ph.D., University of   86 FR 56900, October     August 31, 2026.
                                                                  California at Santa Cruz, Long Marine   13, 2021.
                                                                  Lab, Center for Ocean Health, 115
                                                                  McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
25508................              01  0648-XB173..............  SeaWorld, LLC, 6240 Sea Harbor Drive,   86 FR 50704, September   August 27, 2026.
                                                                  Orlando, FL 32821 (Responsible Party:   10, 2021.
                                                                  Christopher Dold, DVM).
25563................              03  0648-XD609..............  NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center,   89 FR 27419, April 17,   August 11, 2026.
                                                                  Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand     2024.
                                                                  Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
                                                                  (Responsible Party: Nancy Friday,
                                                                  Ph.D.)..
25740................              03  0648-XB573..............  Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway    86 FR 62516, November    August 10, 2026.
                                                                  Avenue, Provincetown, MA 02657          10, 2021.
                                                                  (Responsible Party: Anne-Marie
                                                                  Runfola).
25885................              01  0648-XB792..............  Peter Thielen, D. Eng., Johns Hopkins   87 FR 7820, February     August 10, 2026.
                                                                  University, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road,   10, 2022.
                                                                  Laurel, MD 20723.
29287................             N/A  0648-XF860..............  NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science        91 FR 39603, June 30,    August 26, 2026.
                                                                  Center, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive,     2026.
                                                                  La Jolla, California 92037
                                                                  (Responsible Party: David Weller,
                                                                  Ph.D.).
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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

[[Page 57863]]

prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    As required by the ESA, as applicable, issuance 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: September 9, 2026.
Larissa Plants,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-18621 Filed 9-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on September 11, 2026.

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