[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 51023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25037]



[[Page 51023]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100101C]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of permits #1325 and 1348.

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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 incidental take under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): NMFS has 
issued permit 1348 to Mr. Preston Pate, of the State of North Carolina- 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (1348) and permit 1325 
to Mr. Rich Carpenter, of the North Carolina Division of Marine 
Fisheries (1325).

ADDRESSES: The permits, 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).

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)

Permits and Modified Permits Issued

Permit #1348

    Notice was published on 08/15/2001 (66 FR 42845) that Mr. Preston 
Pate, of the State of North Carolina-Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources applied for an individual incidental take permit for 
the purpose of managing its large and small mesh (5 inches or greater 
stretched mesh) gillnet fishery in the Gillnet Restricted Area (GNRA), 
defined as the following areas in southeastern Pamlico Sound, North 
Carolina. Permit 1348 was issued on September 28, 2001, authorizing 
take of listed species. Permit 1348 expires December 16, 2001.

Permit #1325

    Notice was published on (66 FR 32791) that Mr. Rich Carpenter, of 
the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries applied for an 
incidental take permit (1325). The North Carolina Division of Marine 
Fisheries (NCDMF) has requested an individual incidental take permit 
(ITP) to continue to manage the shrimp trawl fishery in a restricted 
area of North Carolina approximately 30 nautical miles (nm) long, from 
Rich Inlet (34 deg.17.6' N. latitude) and Brown's Inlet (34 deg.35.7' N 
latitude) to a distance of 1 nm seaward of the COLREGS line. NCMDF 
possessed an ITP for this activity covering actions from 1996-2000.
    The high concentration of algae in this area in the warmer months 
of the year often clog the Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) required by 
Federal regulations and render the TEDs useless in releasing turtles. 
The applicant requests an ITP to be effective April 1 through November 
30 of each year.
    NCDMF must notify and reinitiate consultation with NMFS if takes 
directly attributable to TED exempt tows result in the an observed 
incidental capture of up to 10 loggerhead turtles and 2 turtles in any 
combination of green, Kemp's ridley, hawksbill or leatherback. Of these 
NMFS anticipates that 2 turtles in any combination of loggerhead, 
green, Kemp's ridley, hawksbill or leatherback may be killed dead. 
Permit 1325 was issued on August 17, 2001, authorizing take of listed 
species. Permit 1325 expires December 31, 2006.

    Dated: October 1, 2001.
Barry Thom,
 Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-25037 Filed 10-4-01; 8:45 am]
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