[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 140 (Friday, July 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37627-37628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17931]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 071395C]


Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of a permit application, and issuance of 
permit 971 and modification 1 to permit 930.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. David Owens of Texas A&M 
University (P531A) has applied in due form for a permit to take listed 
sea turtles for the purpose of scientific research. Notice is also 
given that NMFS issued Permit

[[Page 37628]]
Number 971 to Dr. James Spotila and Dr. Pamela Plotkin of Drexel 
University (P521A), and Modification 1 to Permit 930 to Dr. Peter Lutz 
of FL Atlantic University (P567), to take listed sea turtles for the 
purpose of scientific research, subject to certain conditions set forth 
therein.

ADDRESSES: The applications, permits, and related documents are 
available for review by appointment in the following offices:
    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR8, NMFS, 1315 East-West Hwy., 
Room 13307, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and
    Director, Northeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 (508-281-9250) for Permit 971 only; or
    Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, NOAA 9721 Executive Center Drive, 
St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813-893-3141) for Permit 930 and 
Application P531A.
    Written comments, or requests for a public hearing on Application 
P531A should be submitted to the Chief, Endangered Species Division, 
Office of Protected Resources.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on Application 
P531A must be received on or before August 21, 1995.].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dr. David Owens of Texas A&M University 
(P531A) requests a permit under the authority of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and NMFS regulations governing 
listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 217-227). The applicant 
requests authorization to study the habitat use, migratory patterns, 
and feeding biology of listed loggerhead and hawksbill sea turtles in 
the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and Stetson Bank, TX. 
The applicant proposes to capture 20 loggerheads and 4 hawksbills, 
attach them with satellite and radio transmitters, take blood samples, 
and conduct ultrasonography and lavage.
    Those individuals requesting a hearing (see ADDRESSES) should set 
out the specific reasons why a hearing on Application P531A would be 
appropriate. The holding of such hearing is at the discretion of the 
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and 
opinions contained in the application summary are those of the 
applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.
    Notice was published on June 2, 1995 (60 FR 28777) that an 
application had been filed by Dr. James Spotila and Dr. Pamela Plotkin 
of Drexel University (P521A), to take listed sea turtles. The 
applicants requested authorization to conduct research on 60 
loggerhead, 60 Kemp's ridley, and 20 green sea turtles in Delaware Bay, 
in 1995 only. The turtles would be captured in a tangle net, examined, 
measured, photographed, tagged, have blood samples taken, and be held 
for the collection of fecal samples. The applicants requested the 
authority for one sea turtle mortality. The purpose of the research is 
to provide a preliminary assessment of seasonal distribution and 
population structure of sea turtles in Delaware Bay, and to evaluate 
the relationship between distribution patterns, resource distribution, 
and environmental factors. On July 14, 1995, NMFS issued Permit 971 to 
authorize the above research.
    On July 5, 1995, NMFS issued Modification 1 to Permit 930 to Dr. 
Peter Lutz of FL Atlantic University (P567), authorizing satellite and 
sonic tagging of turtles in Port St. Lucie Harbor, FL.
    Issuance of Permit 971 and Modification 1 to Permit 930, as 
required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permit and 
modification: (1) Were applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate 
to the disadvantage of the listed species that are the subject of the 
permit and modification, and (3) are consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: July 17, 1995.
Russell J. Bellmer,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17931 Filed 7-20-95; 8:45 am]
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