§ 2404. Permits

(a) In general

The Director may issue permits which authorize acts otherwise prohibited by section 2403(b) of this title.

(b) Applications for permits

(1) Applications for permits under this section shall be made in such manner and form, and shall contain such information, as the Director shall by regulation prescribe.

(2) The Director shall publish notice in the Federal Register of each application which is made for a permit under this section. The notice shall invite the submission by interested parties, within 30 days after the date of publication of the notice, of written data, comments, or views with respect to the application. Information received by the Director as a part of any application shall be available to the public as a matter of public record.

(c) Action by appropriate Secretaries on certain permit applications

(1) If the Director receives an application for a permit under this section requesting authority to undertake any action with respect to—

(A) any native mammal which is a marine mammal within the meaning of section 1362(5) Judicial review

Any applicant for a permit may obtain judicial review of the terms and conditions of any permit issued by the Director under this section or of the refusal of the Director to issue such a permit. Such review, which shall be pursuant to chapter 7 of title 5, may be initiated by filing a petition for review in the United States district court for the district wherein the applicant for a permit resides, or has his principal place of business, or in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, within 60 days after the date on which such permit is issued or denied.

(f) Modification, suspension, and revocation

(1) The Director may modify, suspend, or revoke, in whole or part, any permit issued under this section—

(A) in order to make the permit consistent with any change made after the date of issuance of the permit, to any regulation prescribed under section 2405 of this title;

(B) if there is any change in conditions which makes the permit inconsistent with the purpose of this chapter; or

(C) in any case in which there has been any violation of any term or condition of the permit, any regulation prescribed under this chapter, or any provision of this chapter.

(2) Whenever the Director proposes any modification, suspension, or revocation of a permit under this subsection, the permittee shall be afforded opportunity, after due notice, for a hearing by the Director with respect to such proposed modification, suspension, or revocation. If a hearing is requested, the action proposed by the Director shall not take effect before a decision is issued by him after the hearing, unless the proposed action is taken by the Director to meet an emergency situation. Any action taken by the Director after such a hearing is subject to judicial review on the same basis as is provided for with respect to permit applications under subsection (e) of this section.

(3) Notice of the modification, suspension, or revocation of any permit by the Director shall be published in the Federal Register within 10 days from the date of the Director’s decision.

(g) Permit fees

The Director may establish and charge fees for processing applications for permits under this section. The amount of such fees shall be commensurate with the administrative costs incurred by the Director in undertaking such processing.

(Pub. L. 95–541, § 5, Oct. 28, 1978, 92 Stat. 2050; Pub. L. 104–227, title I, § 105, Oct. 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 3040.)

References In Text

References in Text

Section 1362(5) of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(A), was redesignated section 1362(6) by Pub. L. 102–582, title IV, § 401(a), Nov. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 4909.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(B), is Pub. L. 93–205, Dec. 28, 1973, 87 Stat. 884, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 35 (§ 1531 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1531 of this title and Tables.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(C), is act July 3, 1918, ch. 128, 40 Stat. 755, as amended, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 703 et seq.) of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 710 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–227, § 105(1), substituted “section 2403(b)” for “section 2403(a)”.

Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 104–227, § 105(2), substituted “Species” for “Special”.

Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–227, § 105(3)(A), (B), in subsec. (e) relating to terms and conditions of permits substituted “native plants, or native invertebrates to which the permit applies, and” for “or native plants to which the permit applies,” in cl. (i), added cl. (ii), and struck out former cls. (ii) and (iii) which read as follows:

“(ii) if any such mammal or bird is authorized to be taken, transported, carried, or shipped, the manner (which manner must be determined by the Director to be humane) in which such action must be accomplished and the area in which such taking must occur, and

“(iii) if any such plant is authorized to be collected, the location and manner in which it must be collected;”.

Subsec. (e)(2)(A). Pub. L. 104–227, § 105(3)(C)–(G), in subsec. (e) relating to terms and conditions of permits substituted “or harmful interference within Antarctica” for “within Antarctica (other than within any specially protected area)” and “Specially Protected Species” for “specially protected species” in introductory provisions, substituted “, or” for “; and” in cl. (i)(II), added subcl. (III) in cl. (i), and substituted “within Antarctica are” for “with Antarctica and” in cl. (ii)(II).

Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 104–227, § 105(3)(D), in subsec. (e) relating to terms and conditions of permits substituted “Specially Protected Species” for “specially protected species” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (e)(2)(C), (D). Pub. L. 104–227, § 105(3)(H), in subsec. (e) relating to terms and conditions of permits added subpar. (C) and struck out former subpars. (C) and (D) which read as follows:

“(C) Permits authorizing the entry into any specially protected area—

“(i) may be issued only if—

“(I) there is a compelling scientific purpose for such entry which cannot be served elsewhere, and

“(II) the actions allowed under any such permit will not jeopardize the natural ecological system existing in such area; and

“(ii) shall not allow the operation of any surface vehicle within such area.

“(D) Permits authorizing the entry into any site of special scientific interest shall be consistent with the management plan prescribed under section 2405(b)(3) of this title for such site.”