[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48442-48443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18741]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 071202F]


Endangered Species; File No. 1299

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Raymond R. Carthy, Ph.D., Florida 
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, USGS-BRD, Department of 
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, P.O. Box 
110485, Gainesville, FL 23611-0450, has requested a modification to 
scientific research Permit No. 1299.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
August 23, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The modification request 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; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted 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 amendment 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 other electronic 
media.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 1299, 
issued on May 24, 2001, (66 FR 29934) is requested under the authority 
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.).
    Permit No. 1299 authorizes the permit holder to capture, handle, 
photograph, measure, flipper and PIT tag, collect tissue samples from 
and release loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), and 
Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) sea turtles. The purpose of the 
research, as stated in the application, is to examine the inter-nesting 
movements and habitat usage of adult loggerhead turtles along the 
northwestern coast of Florida, while also examining species 
composition, population densities and habitat utilization in coastal 
bays in the same area. The permit holder requests authorization to 
increase the annual allowed take of sea turtles from 100 to 300 for the 
remainder of the permit which expires on December 31, 2003.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42

[[Page 48443]]

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.

    Dated: July 18, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-18741 Filed 7-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S