[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 170 (Thursday, August 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 52988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22321]



[[Page 52988]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D.082400B]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION:  Receipt of application for a scientific research permit 
(1260); receipt of applications to modify permits (1190).

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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. Joseph Powers, Acting Regional Administrator - 
Southeast Region - NMFS (SER) (1260); NMFS has received a request to 
modify permit (1190) from Dr. Rebecca Lent, Regional Administrator - 
Southwest Region, NMFS (SWR).

DATES:  Comments or requests for a public hearing on the application or 
modification request must be received at the appropriate address or fax 
number no later than 5:00pm eastern standard time on October 2, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments on the application or modification request 
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:
    For permits 1260, 1190: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered 
Species Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910 (ph: 301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-0376).

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

    The following species are covered in this notice:

 Sea Turtles

    Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys 
imbricata), Kemp's ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), Leatherback 
turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), 
olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea).

New Applications Received

    Application 1260: The applicant has requested a four year permit to 
take listed sea turtles in the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean and 
Gulf of Mexico. The research conducted in these areas supports the 
National Marine Fisheries Service sea turtle recovery program. Research 
activities include: directed in water research, aerial surveys, 
resource assessment surveys, and fishery technology testing and 
implementation. Leatherback, loggerhead, green, hawksbill and Kemp's 
ridley sea turtles are the focus of the recovery efforts in the 
southeast region.

Modification Requests Received

    Permit #1190: The applicant requests a modification to Permit 1190. 
Permit 1190 authorizes research activities on sea turtles captured 
incidentally by longline fishery vessels in the Hawaiian region. These 
activities will aid in monitoring the Hawaiian longline fishery, a term 
and condition of the November 3, 1998 biological opinion on that 
fishery. In addition, these research activities are described in the 
Pacific Sea Turtle Recovery Plans. The incidental take of these turtles 
is covered by the incidental take statement of the November 3, 1998 
opinion. The purpose of the research is to document and evaluate the 
incidental take of pelagic turtles by the longline fishery, to help 
estimate the impact of the fishery on listed turtles as individuals and 
as populations, and to determine methods to reduce that impact. 
Research will evaluate how incidental captures affect sea turtle 
anatomy and physiology as a function of season, location of take, water 
temperature, species, size, time of day, and gear configuration. The 
results of the research will help NMFS to better meet the goals and 
objectives of the Pacific Sea Turtle Recovery Plans, the Hooking 
Mortality Workshop, and the requirements of Section 7 Biological 
Opinions developed for this fishery, and ultimately, to fulfill ESA 
responsibilities to protect, conserve, and recover listed species.
    Incidentally-captured turtles will be examined, tagged, weighed, 
measured, resuscitated using approved techniques, have tissue samples 
taken, and be released. Some of these turtles will have transmitters 
attached. Dead turtles will be removed from the marine environment for 
research purposes, including necropsy and collection of life history 
data. Tissue samples may be used lab studies including the following: 
toxicology, histopathology, and genetic studies to identify nesting 
origins of incidentally taken turtles.
     Modification #2 would increase the authorized annual take of 
listed sea turtles from 10 green, 25 leatherback, 150 loggerhead, 10 
hawksbill and 25 olive ridley sea turtles annually to 40 green, 100 
leatherback, 600 loggerhead, 40 hawksbill and 100 olive ridley turtles 
annually. The increases are necessary due to higher numbers of observed 
takes expected under court mandated requirements. On August 4, 2000 a 
court order was issued and filed in U.S. District Court, District of 
Hawaii, requiring the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to 
increase its observer coverage to over 20% for the Hawaii longline 
fishery (historically, NMFS has had a 3%-5% coverage level for the 
fishery). The increases in maximum takes requested are proportional to 
the increase in observer coverage required. Additionally, the applicant 
requests an increase in the number of hard-shelled turtles which may be 
tagged with satellite transmitters from 15 to 50 annually.

    Dated: August 25, 2000.
 Barbara Schroeder,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-22321 Filed 8-30-00; 8:45 am]
Billing Code: 3510-22 -S