[MARMAM] Public Scoping and Comment Period for Marine Mammal Permit Regulations Revision Project

[MMPERMITREGS.Comments]

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is seeking public comments 
to inform the scope of an environmental assessment being prepared to 
evaluate the impacts of revising regulations for permits for scientific 
research, enhancement, and public display of marine mammals.  These 
permits are issued pursuant to Section 104 of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA) and implementing federal regulations.  The 
environmental assessment is being prepared in compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act as part of the regulatory revision 
process.


NMFS has initiated a 60-day public scoping and comment period to inform 
the alternatives to be considered and determine the scope of the 
analysis. Additional information about the regulatory revision process, 
including a scoping document outlining some possible changes to the 
implementing regulations, is available at 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/mmpa_regulations.htm. 


NMFS proposes changes to the marine mammal permit regulations to clarify 
existing permitting procedures and to codify procedures currently being 
implemented through agency policy.  NMFS is especially interested in 
public comments in the following four areas:  new and revised 
definitions, restructuring and reordering of contents, changes to 
application and permit requirements, and factors to consider in 
evaluating environmental impacts of changes to the regulations.


NMFS will consider all written comments received during the comment period.
Written comments about the environmental assessment should be submitted 
by May 10, 2010 to:
P. Michael Payne
Chief, Permits Division
Office of Protected Resources
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226
email:  mmpermitregs.comments at noaa.gov


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