[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21912-21913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11018]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041701B]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of request to modify a scientific research permit 1227; 
issuance of modification #1 to permit 1236 and modification #1 to 
permit 1254.

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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 under the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA): NMFS has received a request to modify permit (1227) from Dr. 
Peter Dutton, of NMFS-SWFSC; NMFS has issued modification #1 to permit 
1236 to Dr. John A. Musick, PhD., of the College of William and Mary 
(1236) and NMFs has issued modification #1 to permit 1254 to

[[Page 21913]]

Dynegy Northest Generation, Inc. (1254).

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the modification 
request must be received at the appropriate address or fax number no 
later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on June 1, 2001.

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:
    Endangered Species Division, F/PR3, 1315 East West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910 (phone:301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-0376).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD 
(phone: 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. Scientific 
research and/or enhancement permits are issued under Section 
10(a)(1)(A) 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

    Threatened and 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)
    Threatened and endangered Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys 
olivacea)

Fish

    Endangered Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Modification Requests Received

Permit #1227

    The applicant requests a modification to permit 1227. Permit 1227 
authorizes the capture of up to five leatherback turtles in breakaway 
hoop nets for the purpose of collecting genetic samples and attaching 
satellite transmitters to the animals. Modification #1 would increase 
the authorized annual take from five animals to 100 animals. All of the 
animals would be measured, flipper tagged, PIT tagged, have a tissue 
sample collected and then be released. Up to 20 of these animals would 
have satellite transmitters attached to them via a harness.

Permits and Modified Permits Issued

Permit #1236

    Notice was published on April 14, 2000 (65 FR 20138), that Dr. John 
A. Musick, PhD., of the College of William and Mary applied for a 
scientific research. Permit 1236 was issued on October 10, 
2000. During the review of permit #1236 part of the proposed permit was 
separated from the package for additional comment and review. This 
portion is now being issued as modification #1 to permit 1236. 
Modification #1 authorizes the take of listed sea turtles in the 
coastal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Research conducted in the 
Chesapeake Bay will study inter-nesting movements of sea turtles in 
Virginia via satellite telemetry. 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, and leatherback turtles. 
Modification #1 to permit 1236 was issued on April 10, 2001, 
authorizing take of listed species. Permit 1236 expires June 30, 2005.

Permit #1254

    Notice was published on February 8, 2001 (66 FR 8560), that Mr. 
Martin Daley, of Dynegy Northeast Generation (DNG) applied for a 
modification to 1254. For modification #1, DNG requested the removal of 
Central Hudson Gas and Electric (CHGE) from the permit as a result of 
the completed sale of the Roseton and Danskammer Point power plants 
from CHGE to DNG. Modification #1 to Permit 1254 was issued on April 
13, 2001, authorizing take of listed species. Permit 1254 expires 
August 31, 2005.

    Dated: April 26, 2001.
Phil Williams,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-11018 Filed 5-1-01; 8:45 am]
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