[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74711-74712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29346]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD505
Endangered Species; File No. 18688
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 NMFS Pacific Islands Regional
Office, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814
[Responsible Party: Michael Tosatto], has applied in due form for a
permit to take hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley
(Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback (Dermochelys imbricata),
loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles for
purposes of scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before January 15, 2015.
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. 18688 from the list of available applications.
[[Page 74712]]
These documents are also available upon written request or by
appointment in the 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.
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: Amy Hapeman or Courtney Smith, (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).
On September 22, 2014 notice (79 FR 56573) was published that the
applicant requests a five-year research permit to conduct research on
sea turtles bycaught in three longline fisheries in the Pacific Ocean
around Hawaii and American Samoa to assess sea turtle post-hooking
survival, movements, and ecology in pelagic habitats. NMFS is currently
processing this request. The applicant is requesting to revise the
number of turtles that could be taken for research in the Hawaii deep-
set longline fishery. Each species' take numbers would be reduced
except for leatherback sea turtles which would increase from 13 to 24
turtles annually. This change is needed to keep the requested research
take activities consistent with a new 2014 Biological Opinion which
changed the number of sea turtles that may be incidental bycaught in
this commercial fishery. All other aspects of the application would
remain the same.
Dated: December 8, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-29346 Filed 12-15-14; 8:45 am]
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