[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 462-463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33182]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE356
Endangered Species; File No. 19716
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 Robert Hardy, 100 8th Avenue
Southeast Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish &
Wildlife Research Institute, St Petersburg, FL 33701, has applied in
due form for a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green
(Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), hawksbill
(Eretmochelys imbricata), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea
turtles for purposes of scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before February 5, 2016.
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. 19716 from the list of available applications.
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, at the address listed above.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the
subject line of the email comment.
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: Arturo Herrera or Amy Hapeman, (301)
427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the
authority of the Endangered Species Act
[[Page 463]]
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 permit to locate and describe
surface-pelagic drift communities of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of
Mexico that serve as developmental habitat for surface-pelagic juvenile
and neonate sea turtles, to quantify threats to pelagic sea turtles,
and to gather information on their life-history, genetics, movements,
behavior, and diet. Researchers would conduct vessel surveys to count
and pursue for capture by dip net up to 300 loggerhead, 200 green, 60
hawksbill, 130 Kemp's ridley and 10 leatherback sea turtles annually.
An additional 150 loggerheads and 440 leatherbacks could be harassed
annually during vessel surveys but would not be pursued for capture.
Depending on life stage and size, captured sea turtles would have the
following procedures performed prior to release: Measure, weigh, oral
swab, esophageal lavage, skin and scute biopsy, flipper and passive
integrated transponder tag, and/or epoxy attachment of a satellite or
VHF transmitter. Voided fecal samples also would be collected
opportunistically.
Dated: December 29, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-33182 Filed 1-5-16; 8:45 am]
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