[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1748-1749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-886]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 011696C]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of two applications for scientific research 
permits (P602 and P534A).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Peter Dutton of NMFS Southwest 
Fisheries Science Center and Donna McDonald of Ocean Planet Research, 
Inc. (P602), and Dr. Scott Eckert of the Hubbs-Sea World Research 
Institute (P534A), have applied in due form for permits to take listed 
sea turtles for the purpose of scientific research.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these 
applications must be received on or before February 22, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, 
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310-980-4016).
    Written comments, or requests for a public hearing on these 
applications should be submitted to the Chief, Endangered Species 
Division, Office of Protected Resources.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applications P602 and P534A request permits 
under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1531-1543) and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife 
permits (50 CFR parts 217-227). Application P602 requests authorization 
to capture 50 green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), 5 olive ridley sea 
turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), and 5 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta 
caretta) in San Diego Bay. The turtles would be measured, weighed, have 
blood samples taken, and have tags and transmitters attached. Some 
turtles would have lavage stomach sampling performed. Turtles would be 
recaptured monthly for growth measurements. The purpose of the research 
is to reassess the status of sea turtles in San Diego Bay. Data 
collected will be compared to baseline data to determine which turtles 
are still resident in the Bay, and to determine 

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growth and tag retention rates. Information will be collected on turtle 
numbers, species, size, sex, tags, health status, stock origin, and 
behavior and movement patterns. Genetic analysis of blood samples will 
contribute to an international effort to determine stock structure of 
Pacific sea turtles. The applicants request a 5-year permit from March 
1, 1996.
    Application P534A requests authorization to capture 20 green sea 
turtles (Chelonia mydas) annually in South San Diego Bay, take blood 
samples, attach tags and transmitters, and measure heart rate and 
internal temperature. Some turtles may have lavage stomach sampling 
performed. The purpose of the research is (1) to determine habitat 
preferences, behavioral activity patterns (such as foraging behavior), 
and residence patterns, and (2) to determine thermal preferences. The 
applicant requests a 2-year permit from September, 1996. Both 
applicants (P602 and P534A) will be coordinating their research 
efforts.
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on either application should 
set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that particular 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such 
hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in these 
application summaries are those of the applicants and do not 
necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.

    Dated: January 17, 1996.
Russell J. Bellmer,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-886 Filed 1-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F