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@noaa.gov