[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 160 (Thursday, August 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 50185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20991]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081100B]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits (1261, 
1262); issuance of permit 1225.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
scientific research permit applications from Mr. Vincent A. Mudrak, of 
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) (1261), and Dr. Cindy Driscoll, of 
the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDDNR) (1262); NMFS has 
issued permit 1225 to Mr. Bruce Hecker, of South Carolina Aquarium 
(1225).

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the new 
applications or modification requests must be received at the 
appropriate address or fax number no later than 5:00pm eastern standard 
time on September 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on any of the new applications or 
modification requests should be sent to the appropriate office as 
indicated below. Comments may also be sent via fax to the number 
indicated for the application or modification request. Comments will 
not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the internet. The 
applications and related documents are available for review in the 
indicated office, by appointment:
    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (ph: 
301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-0376, e-mail: [email protected]).

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 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 Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA. 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

    Endangered Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum).
    Endangered Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), endangered Hawksbill 
turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), endangered Kemp's ridley turtle 
(Lepidochelys kempii), endangered Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys 
coriacea), threatened Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).

New Applications Received

    Application 1261: The applicant requests a five-year permit to 
maintain captively-bred shortnose sturgeon for scientific research at 
the Warm Springs Hatchery operated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 
Research Activities include feeding studies, propagation studies and 
studies identified in the recovery plan for shortnose sturgeon.
    Application 1262: The applicant has requested a five-year permit to 
take 50 loggerhead, 30 Kemp's ridley, 10 leatherback, 5 green and 5 
hawksbill turtles from the upper and middle Chesapeake Bay for 
scientific research purposes. Each turtle would be captured, handled, 
measured, weighed, tagged, and have biological samples (tissue and 
blood) collected and then released. Yearly sampling would occur from 
May to November.

Permits Issued

    Notice was published on 12/17/1999 (64 FR 70697) that Mr. Bruce 
Hecker, of South Carolina Aquarium applied for an enhancement permit 
(1225). The aquarium proposed to maintain a population of up to eight 
juvenile shortnose sturgeon in a captive environment for educational 
purposes. This application meets Recovery Task 2.5 C concerning public 
education and raising public awareness of sturgeon issues. The aquarium 
proposes to present the fish in a manner that will enhance the 
conservation of the species through public education. Permit 1225 was 
issued on July 25, 2000, authorizing take of listed species. Permit 
1225 expires June 30, 2005.

    Dated: August 14, 2000.
Wanda Cain,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-20991 Filed 8-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F