[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27535-27536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12650]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032103C]


Endangered Species; File No. 1418

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 Lawrence D. Wood, Marine Life 
Center of Juno Beach, 14200 U.S. Hwy. 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408, has 
applied in due form for a permit to take hawksbill sea turtles 
(Eretmochelys imbricata) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before June 
19, 2003.

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; and
    Southeast Region, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Opay (301)713-1401 or Carrie 
Hubard, (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 exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 
222-226).
    The applicant proposes to study the abundance and distribution of 
hawksbill

[[Page 27536]]

sea turtles in the waters of Palm Beach County, FL. The purpose of this 
project is to support hawksbill recovery efforts by surveying the local 
population to document the distribution and movement of individuals in 
these waters. Larger turtles will be hand captured and smaller 
individuals will be captured using a 24 inch (60 cm) diameter dip-net. 
Turtles will be retained on a vessel for the collection of morphometric 
data, tagging, numbering, photographs, and tissue sampling, and then 
released. Seventy-five turtles of all sizes will be captured annually, 
and the requested duration of this permit is 5 years.
    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: May 14, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-12650 Filed 5-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S