[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 244 (Thursday, December 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 60588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27488]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF862
Endangered Species; File No. 21367
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 Christopher Marshall, Ph.D., Texas
A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553,
has applied in due form for a permit to take Kemp's ridley
(Lepidochelys kempii), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys
imbricata), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles for purposes
of scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before January 22, 2018.
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. 21367 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: Amy Hapeman or Erin Markin, (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 proposes to study Kemp's ridley, green, hawksbill and
loggerhead sea turtles in the western Gulf of Mexico and along the
Texas coast. The purpose of the work is to characterize the movement,
habitat use, foraging ecology, and health of sea turtles using these
areas. Up to 55 Kemp's ridley, 55 green, 10 hawksbill, and 55
loggerhead sea turtles annually would be captured by hand, dip net,
tangle net or cast net. Upon capture, researchers would examine;
photograph; apply a temporary carapace mark; collect morphometric data;
scute, blood and tissue biopsy; and flipper and passive integrated
transponder tag each turtle before release. A subset of animals for
each species except hawksbills would also receive either (1) a
satellite tag and a separate acoustic transmitter or (2) a 3D dive
profile-video tag. The permit would be valid for up to five years from
the date of issuance.
Dated: December 18, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27488 Filed 12-20-17; 8:45 am]
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