[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 203 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62709-62710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26941]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 101200B]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for a research/enhancement permit 
(1266); issuance of permits (1236, 1200, 1258).

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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 
research/enhancement permit application from John Glass of REMSA, Inc. 
(REMSA) (1266); and NMFS has issued permits to: Dr. Jack Musick, 
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) (1236); David Stier, 
Springfield Science Museum (SSM) (1200) and David Jones, North Carolina 
Zoological Park (NCZoo)(1258).

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 pm eastern standard 
time on November 20, 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

[[Page 62710]]

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:
    Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910 301-713-1401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Jordan (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).

Fish

    Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

New Applications Received

    Application 1266: The applicant has requested a 5-year permit to 
take 30 loggerhead; seven green; five Kemp's ridley; four hawksbill and 
four leatherback turtles from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico in 
conjunction with US Army Corps of Engineer Dredging projects for 
scientific research and enhancement purposes.

Permits Issued

    Permit 1236: Notice was published on April 14, 2000 (65 FR 20138), 
that NMFS received an application from VIMS for a research permit. The 
applicant requested a 5-year permit to take listed sea turtles in the 
coastal waters of the US Virgin Islands. Research conducted in the US 
Virgin Islands will study habitat utilization of juvenile Hawksbill 
turtles at the Buck Island Reef National Monument off of St. Croix, 
USVI. The study will capture, handle, tag (PIT, flipper, satellite, 
radio and acoustic), collect biological samples (via humeral bone 
biopsy, blood samples and laparoscopy) and release loggerhead, green , 
Kemp's ridley, hawksbill and leatherback turtles. Permit 1236 was 
issued on October 10, 2000, authorizing take of listed species. Permit 
1236 expires June 30, 2005.
    Permit 1200: Notice was published on February 19, 1999 (64 FR 
8331), that the SSM applied for a enhancement permit (1200). The 
applicant had requested permission to maintain up to five (5) 
endangered shortnose sturgeon in captivity for educational purposes. 
The sturgeon will be captive sturgeon received from the Conte 
Anadromous Research Center that have been classified as ``non-
releasable'' by NMFS. Permit 1200 was issued on October 12, 2000, 
authorizing take of listed species. Permit 1200 expires September 30, 
2005.
    Permit 1258: Notice was published on June 9, 2000 (65 FR 36666), 
that the NCZoo applied for a enhancement permit (1258). The applicant 
requested a 5-year permit to continue to maintain four (4) adult 
shortnose sturgeon in captivity for enhancement purposes. The NCZoo 
currently possesses four adult shortnose sturgeon received from the US 
Fish and Wildlife Service hatchery at Warm Springs Georgia in November 
1996 under scientific research permit #986. These sturgeon have been 
classified as ``non-releasable'' by NMFS. Permit 986 will expire on 
December 31, 2000 and the permit holder does not wish to renew the 
enhancement aspects of his permit. As a direct result, the North 
Carolina Zoological Park is applying for an individual permit to 
continue maintenance of these fish. Permit 1258 was issued on October 
12, 2000, authorizing take of listed species. Permit 1258 expires July 
31, 2005.

    Dated: October 12, 2000.
Wanda L. Cain,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-26941 Filed 10-18-00; 8:45 am]
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