[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 7776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4600]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 022096A]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of a request to extend permit 962 (P509B), 
and issuance of modification 2 to permit 878.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Carlos Diez and Robert van Dam 
from the University of Central Florida (P509B) have applied in due form 
to extend Permit 962. Notice is also given that modification 2 has been 
issued to permit 878, held by Florida Department of Environmental 
Protection (P553). Both permits authorize the take of listed sea 
turtles for the purpose of scientific research, subject to certain 
conditions set forth therein.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the request 
to extend Permit 962 must be received on or before April 1, 1996.

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);
    or
    Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, 9721 Executive Center 
Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813-893-3141).
    Written comments, or requests for a public hearing on the request 
to extend Permit 962 should be submitted to the Chief, Endangered 
Species Division, Office of Protected Resources.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The holders of Permit 962 request an 
extension from 1 year to 5 years, 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). No 
other change to the current authorization is requested. The current 
permit authorizes the hand capture of 200 listed hawksbill sea turtles 
(Eretmochelys imbricata) and 20 listed green sea turtles (Chelonia 
mydas), to be examined, photographed, measured, and tagged. The 
research location is Mona and Monito Islands, PR (18 deg.05' N., 
67 deg.54' W.). Some of the turtles may be lavaged, have blood or scute 
samples taken, or have time-depth recorders attached. A four-year 
extension would authorize this take annually until May 31, 2000. The 
goal of the research is to provide information on the ecology and 
population dynamics of the hawksbill that will make it possible to 
improve the effectiveness of management efforts, addressing the 
following recovery plan priorities: (1) The identification of important 
marine habitats, (2) the determination of adult and juvenile 
distribution and abundance, (3) the determination of sex ratios in the 
juvenile population, (4) the evaluation of the extent of ingestion of 
persistent marine debris, (5) the determination of growth rates and age 
at sexual maturity, and (6) the quantification of threats to adults and 
juveniles on foraging grounds. In justification for the extension of 
this permit, recovery plans and other publications indicate that 
studies such as abundance, distribution, growth rates, and sex ratios 
should be conducted for at least 10 years.
    Permit 878 authorizes research on loggerhead, green, Kemp's ridley, 
hawksbill, and leatherback sea turtles in Florida waters. Some turtles 
are authorized for blood samples, laparoscopic examinations, lavage, 
and tumor collection. The purpose of the research is to investigate 
life histories, habitat requirements, migratory behaviors, and threats 
to the species. On February 20, 1996, Modification 2 was issued to 
Permit 878, increasing the number of listed sea turtles authorized to 
receive telemeters from 15 to 30. Issuance of this modification, as 
required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such modification: (1) 
Was applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate to the disadvantage 
of the listed species that are the subject of this modification, and 
(3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 
of the ESA.
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on the request to extend 
Permit 962 should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on this 
particular request 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 permit 
summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the 
views of NMFS.

    Dated: February 22, 1996
Russell J. Bellmer,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-4600 Filed 2-28-96; 8:45 am]
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