[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64064-64065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30841]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 111298B]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of scientific research permits (1174, 1176, 1178) and 
a modification to a scientific research permit (1053)

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding 
permits for takes of endangered and threatened species for the purposes 
of scientific research and/or enhancement: NMFS has issued permits to: 
Mr. Harold Brundage III, of Environmental Research and Consulting, 
Inc., Chadds Ford, PA (ECRI) (1174), Mr. W. Coleman Long, of US Army 
Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, DE (COE) (1176), and Michael P. 
Sissenwine, Ph.D., Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA (NEFSC) (1178); and NMFS has issued a 
modification to a scientific research permit to Molly Lutcavage, Ph.D., 
New England Aquarium, Boston, MA (NEA) (1053).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the 
applications must be received on or before December 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    For permits 1053, 1174, and 1178: Protected Resources Division, F/
NER3, One Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930 (978-281-9328).
    For permits 1176: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species 
Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301-
713-1401).
    All documents may also be reviewed by appointment in the Office of 
Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For permits 1174 and 1176: Terri 
Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401);

[[Page 64065]]

    For permits 1053 and 1178: Michelle Rogers, Silver Spring, MD (301-
713-1401)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the 
ESA, is based on a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) Are 
applied for in good faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of 
the listed species which are the subject of the permits; and (3) are 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA. Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are 
subject to parts 217-222 of Title 50 CFR, the NMFS regulations 
governing listed species permits.

Species Covered in this Notice

    The following species are covered in this notice: Green turtle 
(Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's 
ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys 
coriacea), Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), and Shortnose sturgeon 
(Acipenser brevirostrum).

Permits and Modifications Issued

    Notice was published on September 1, 1998 (63 FR 46416), that NEA 
had filed an application for a modification to permit 1053. 
Modification 1 was issued on November 19, 1998, and authorizes NEA to 
conduct direct in-water capture of 8 leatherback turtles, which will be 
satellite tagged, PIT tagged, blood sampled, weighed, measured, and 
photographed. The turtles will be captured using a breakaway hoop net, 
a method that has been used successfully to capture porpoise, 
pinnipeds, and small cetaceans. Modification 1 also authorizes a 2-year 
extension to permit 1053. Modification 1 is valid for the duration of 
the permit, which expires on December 31, 2000.
    Notice was published on August 3, 1998 (63 FR 41229), that an 
application had been filed by ECRI. Permit 1174 was issued on October 
22, 1998, and authorizes ECRI to sample for and collect shortnose 
sturgeon in the Delaware River and Estuary system and in the lower 
Susquehanna River/Chesapeake Bay Complex. The objectives of the study 
are to collect data on current distribution, abundance, length 
structure and movements of shortnose sturgeon in the Delaware River 
Estuary and in the low Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay. Emphasis 
will be placed on calculating reliable population estimates, 
determining aggregation areas, and obtaining information on juvenile 
shortnose sturgeon. Information on population size and length 
distribution for the Delaware River population will be compared with 
that during the 1980s. Permit 1174 expires on August 31, 2003.
    Notice was published on August 31, 1998 (63 FR 46218), that an 
application had been filed by COE. Permit 1176 was issued on November 
9, 1998, and authorizes COE to use hatchery bred shortnose sturgeon to 
test the potential impacts of blasting to deepen Wilmington harbor in 
North Carolina. COE will place hatchery raised sturgeon in wire cages 
below the surface and subject them to a series of tests blasts to 
determine the effect that the harbor deepening will have on wild 
sturgeon in the harbor. As required by a September 13, 1996, biological 
opinion, additional protective measures will be taken during the test 
blasting to prevent wild sturgeon from being affected. These measures 
include relocation of any wild sturgeon found to be in the area prior 
to the blasts and air bubble curtains. Due to contract awards schedule, 
the test blast schedule would likely begin in November, 1998 and may 
continue through January, 1999. Permit 1176 expires on December 31, 
1999.
    Notice was published on September 15, 1998 (63 FR 49335), that an 
application had been filed by NEFSC. Permit 1178 was issued on October 
29, 1998, and authorizes NEFSC to take listed sea turtles taken 
incidental to fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. The work will 
be conducted by scientific observers aboard such vessels. The following 
species and take numbers have been authorized: 300 loggerhead, 85 
leatherback, 10 Kemp's ridley, 10 hawksbill, and 10 green turtles. 
NEFSC is authorized to measure, photograph, flipper tag, scan for PIT 
tags, resuscitate (if necessary) and release turtles taken by foreign 
and domestic commercial fishing vessels operating in state waters and 
the Exclusive Economic Zone. Further, NEFSC is authorized to bring to 
shore, when feasible, dead sea turtles for necropsy. Necropsy will only 
be performed by personnel currently permitted to conduct such research. 
This research supports the NMFS mission of assessing the impacts of 
commercial fisheries on marine resources of interest to the United 
States. Permit 1178 expires on December 31, 2003.

    Dated: November 12, 1998.
Margaret Lorenz,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-30841 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am]
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