[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48135-48136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18591]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 071202H]


Endangered Species; File No. 1388

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. David A. Nelson, U.S. Army 
Research And Development Center, Waterway Experimental Station, 4104 
Freetown Road, Vickburg, MS 39183, has applied in due form for a permit 
to take green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) and 
leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles for purposes of scientific 
research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
August 22, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Becker or Ruth Johnson, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking, 
importing, and

[[Page 48136]]

exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    The applicant proposes three projects along the northwestern 
Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The first is to perform turtle 
relocation trawling for U.S. Army Corps of Engineer dredging projects. 
The purpose of this action is risk assessment or relocation of the 
turtles in the channels being dredged. All turtles captured will be 
handled, flipper and PIT tagged, and released away from the dredging 
hopper. The applicant requests to take 180 loggerhead, 25 Kemp's 
ridley, 2 Hawksbill, 20 green, and 2 leatherback turtles per year.
    The second project is to perform relative abundance and habitat use 
surveys of near shore areas for green turtles. The turtles will be 
captured in tangle nets, measured, flipper and PIT tagged, and 
released. These turtles will also be tagged with both radio and sonic 
transmitters or time-depth recorders and radio transmitters. The 
applicant requests to take 75 green turtles per year.
    The third project is to investigate large-scale movements and 
diving behavior. Turtles will be captured by trawling measured, flipper 
and PIT tagged, and released. A satellite transmitter will be attached. 
The applicant requests to take 20 loggerhead, 5 Kemp's ridley, and 5 
green turtles per year.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and 
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)713-0376, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Please 
note that comments will not be accepted by e-mail or by other 
electronic media.

    Dated: July 16, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-18591 Filed 7-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S