[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 188 (Thursday, September 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49354-49355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24224]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 092101A]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of modification #1 to permit 1260.

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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 issued modification #1 to permit 1260 to Dr. Joseph 
Powers, of the NMFS - Southeast Regional Office (SERO) (1260).

ADDRESSES: The permit, application 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)

[[Page 49355]]

    Endangered Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
    Threatened Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
    Threatened and endangered Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys 
olivacea)

Permits and Modified Permits Issued

Permit #1260

    Notice was published on (65 FR 52988) that Dr. Joseph Powers, of 
SERO applied for a scientific research permit (1260). Permit #1260 was 
issued on June 18, 2001. The original permit application underwent a 
30-day public comment period following notification of receipt in the 
Federal Register. The applicant addressed all comments submitted on 
this application. The modification did not under go public review 
because the activities being authorized under the modification were 
previously reviewed under the original application or are not different 
in scope or magnitude than those reviewed in the original application. 
The requestor currently holds a permit authorizing the take of listed 
sea turtles in the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of 
Mexico. The research conducted in these areas support the National 
Marine Fisheries Service sea turtle recovery program. Research 
activities include: directed in-water research, aerial surveys, 
resource 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. For 
modification #1, the applicant has requested take in the Albermarle-
Pamlico Sound Complex in North Carolina, coverage of turtle research by 
observers covering oil rig removal activities in the Gulf of Mexico, 
addition of turtle species to the Longline gear modification 
experiments and extension of the permit expiration date. The permit 
holder has also requested that the permit expiration date be extended 
to June 30, 2006. Modification #1 to Permit 1260 was issued on 
September 18, 2001, authorizing take of listed endangered and 
threatened sea turtles. Permit 1260 expires June 30, 2006.

    Dated: September 20, 2001.
Phil Williams,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-24224 Filed 9-26-01; 8:45 am]
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