[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 33468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12445]


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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; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Tasha L. Metz, Ph.D., Texas A&M 
University at Galveston, Department of Marine Biology, P.O. Box 1675, 
Galveston, TX 77551 has been issued 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.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 12, 2014, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (79 FR 13991) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take sea turtles had been submitted by the above-
named individual. The requested permit has been issued 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).
    Permit No. 18029 authorizes Dr. Metz to capture loggerhead, green, 
Kemp's ridley, and hawksbill sea turtles using nets 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. Visual surveys by vessel may also be performed. Captured 
turtles would be examined, biologically sampled, and tagged prior to 
release. A select number may be outfitted with satellite transmitters 
to track movements post-release. The permit expires on May 31, 2021.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: May 23, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-12445 Filed 5-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P