[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2196-2197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00724]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE348
Endangered Species; File No. 17225
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 the NMFS Northeast Fisheries
Science Center [Responsible Party: William Karp], 166 Water Street,
Woods Hole, MA 02543, has applied in due form for a permit to take
Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), loggerhead
(Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), green (Chelonia
mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and leatherback (Dermochelys
coraicea) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before February 16, 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. 17225 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: Malcolm Mohead 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 permit to conduct research on
sea turtles and Atlantic sturgeon in the U.S. Atlantic exclusive
economic zone from Massachusetts to Georgia. The purpose of the
research is to evaluate bycatch reduction devices for commercial
fishing gear to mitigate sea turtle and
[[Page 2197]]
sturgeon interactions under two projects: Project A (Northern region)
and Project B (Southern region). For Project A, up to 223 Atlantic
sturgeon, 51 loggerhead, six Kemp's ridley, six green, and six
leatherback sea turtles could be targeted for research sampling over
the course of the permit that have been legally bycaught in a Federal
commercial fishery. For Project B, researchers would capture by
experimental or control trawls or gillnets up to 204 Atlantic sturgeon,
148 loggerhead, 62 Kemp's ridley, 10 green, eight leatherback and eight
hawksbill sea turtles over the course of the permit. All animals would
be measured, weighed, tissue sampled, passive integrated transponder
(PIT) and/or flipper tagged, and photographed before release. In
addition, up to six sea turtles (any species) and six Atlantic sturgeon
may accidentally die or be harmed as a result of research activities
over the life of the permit.
Dated: December 22, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00724 Filed 1-14-16; 8:45 am]
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