CHAPTER XII 



PERMIT PROCESS 



The Marine Mammal Protection Act placed a moratorium, 

 with certain exceptions, on the taking and importing of marine 

 mammals and marine mammal products. One exception is the 

 provision for the issuance of permits by either the Secretary 

 of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior, depending upon 

 the species of animal involved, for the taking of marine 

 mammals for purposes of scientific research or public display. 

 Before acting on a permit application, the responsible regula- 

 tory agency is required to have the application reviewed by 

 the Marine Mammal Commission, in consultation with its Committee 

 of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals. 



Application Review 



The permit application and review process involves three 

 stages: (1) receipt and initial review of the application at 

 the Department of Commerce or the Interior, publication of a 

 notice of receipt of the application in the Federal Register , 

 and transmittal to the Commission; (2) review of the application 

 by the Commission, in consultation with its Committee of 

 Scientific Advisors, and transmittal of its recommendation to 

 the Department; and (3) final processing by the Department, 

 including consideration of all comments and recommendations 

 of the Commission and the public, resulting in the approval 

 or denial of the application. The following is a schematic 

 representation of this process. 



Applicant 



Application 



Final Departmental Action 



Dept. of 



Commerce 



X 



Dept. of 

 Interior 



A 



_3_ 



Dept. of 

 Interior 



2. 



Dept. of 

 Commerce 



Complete Application 



Commission Recommendation 



Committee of Scientific 

 Advisors on Marine Mammals 



176 



