[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 13991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05404]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD162


Endangered Species; File No. 18029

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Tasha Metz, Texas A&M University 
at Galveston, Department of Marine Biology, P.O. Box 1675, Galveston, 
TX 77551, has applied in due form for a permit to take loggerhead 
(Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys 
kempii), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for 
purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 11, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 18029 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division
     by email to [email protected] (include the File 
No. in the subject line of the email),
     by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or
     at the address listed above.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the 
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosa L. Gonz[aacute]lez or Amy 
Hapeman, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 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).
    The applicant requests a five-year research permit to continue 
studying relative abundance, distribution, habitat use, and health 
status of the above sea turtle species in estuarine and nearshore 
waters in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico particularly off Texas and 
Louisiana. Research would be divided between two major projects: (1) 
Continuation of work started during the Natural Resource Damage 
Assessment documenting and assessing possible impacts of Deepwater 
Horizon oil and dispersants on sea turtles throughout selected 
beachfront, tidal pass and estuarine/bay habitats west of the 
Mississippi River Delta; and (2) continuation of assessing the impact 
of Fibropapilloma virus infection on recent increases in and continued 
growth of Texas' green turtle population. Annually, up to 60 
loggerhead, 260 green, 310 Kemp's ridley, and 15 hawksbill sea turtles 
would be captured using nets (i.e., entanglement, cast nets, and dip 
net) and visual surveys would be performed. Captured turtles would be 
measured; weighed; photographed; tissue, scute, blood and fecal 
sampled; carapace marked; flipper and passive integrated transponder 
tagged; and have epibiota removed prior to release. A select number may 
be outfitted with satellite transmitters to track movements post-
release.

    Dated: March 6, 2014.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-05404 Filed 3-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P