[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 17178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9017]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 032597A]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of application for a modification to permit 
#875 (P774).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Fisheries 
Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) (P774) has applied 
in due form for a modification of scientific research permit #875.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application must be received on or before May 9, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by appointment in the following offices:
    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Hwy., 
Room 13307, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and
    Director, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, 
MA 01930-2298 (508-281-9250).
    Written comments, or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be submitted to the Chief, Endangered Species 
Division, Office of Protected Resources.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Marine Fisheries Service, NEFSC 
(P774) requests a modification to permit #875 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).
    Currently, the applicant is authorized to take listed loggerhead 
(Caretta caretta), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Kemp's Ridley 
(Lepidochelys kempi), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and green 
(Chelonia mydas) sea turtles which have been incidentally taken in 
commercial fishing operations within U.S. waters of the Atlantic Ocean 
and Gulf of Mexico for the purposes of scientific research. The 
applicant has requested an increase in take of leatherback (Dermochelys 
coriacea) turtles from 20 to 85 turtles per year. Additionally, the 
applicant has requested authorization to obtain blood samples from 
turtles incidentally captured in the pelagic drift gillnet swordfish 
fishery for purposes of health assessment and genetics research. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing should set out the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this 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 this application summary are those of the 
applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.

    Dated: April 3, 1997
Robert C. Ziobro,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97-9017 Filed 4-8-97; 8:45 am]
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