[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57069-57070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27583]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 100499C]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of an application for a scientific research permit 
(1227); receipt of an application to modify a permit (1051); and 
issuance of a permit (1219).

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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 received a permit application from Dr. Peter Dutton, of 
NMFS-Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) (1227); NMFS has 
received an application for modifications to an existing permit from 
Mr. Jorgen Skjeveland, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) 
(1051); and NMFS has issued a permit to Mr. Larry Goodman, of the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1219).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on either the 
new application or the modification request must be received on or 
before November 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following office, by appointment: Office of Protected 
Resources, Endangered Species Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301-713-1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (301-
713-1401).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (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

[[Page 57070]]

consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA. Authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set 
forth in the permits. Permits and modifications are issued in 
accordance with and are subject to the ESA and NMFS regulations 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).

    Those individuals requesting a hearing on an application listed in 
this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such 
hearing is at the discretion of the Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS. All statements and opinions contained in the permit 
action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of NMFS.

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following species are covered in this notice:

Sea Turtles

    Endangered Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

Fish

    Endangered Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum).

New Application Received

    SWFSC has applied for a 2-year scientific research permit (1227) 
that would authorize takes of leatherback sea turtles. Recent studies 
suggest that leatherback turtles gather in California waters during 
early fall, and that Monterey Bay is an important forage area for 
leatherback turtles in the Pacific. This study proposes to capture up 
to 5 of these turtles for genetic stock identification and equip them 
with transmitters to track movements and dive behavior. This will serve 
as a feasibility study for future work aimed at addressing priorities 
outlined in the U.S. Pacific leatherback Recovery Plan; to identify 
critical forage habitats, genetic stock structure, migratory corridors 
and potential fishery impacts on this species in the Pacific.

Modification Request Received

    FWS requests a modification to Permit 1051. Permit 1051 authorizes 
the direct take of shortnose sturgeon by the permit holder, to be 
conducted over a five-year period. Thirty (30) adult and subadult 
shortnose sturgeon may be captured annually from the Chesapeake Bay and 
thirty (30) adult and subadult shortnose sturgeon may be captured 
annually from the Delaware River/Bay estuary by gillnet and may be 
examined, measured, weighed, photographed, tissue sampled, and PIT and 
T-Bar tagged. Ten (10) shortnose sturgeon may be fitted with sonic 
tags. The fish shall be released at the location of capture immediately 
following completion of the above procedures. FWS requests an increase 
in the authorized annual take for the purpose of concentrating tagging 
and sample collection efforts to the Delaware River. The applicant 
proposes to increase sonic tags from 10 to 25, an increase of 15 tags 
and increase sample collection from 30 to 60 fish. The modification is 
requested for the duration of the permit, which expires May 31, 2002.

Permit Issued

    Notice was published on June 3, 1999 (64 FR 29839), that EPA had 
applied for a scientific research permit. Permit 1219 was issued on 
September 29, 1999, authorizing takes of shortnose sturgeon for 
scientific research in Gulf Breeze, Florida. The purpose of the 
research is to obtain information on the tolerances of port-larval and 
early-juvenile shortnose sturgeon to low dissolved oxygen (D.O.), 
particularly in relation to temperature and salinity. Permit 1219 
expires September 30, 2000.

    Dated: October 13, 1999.
Wanda L. Cain,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-27583 Filed 10-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F