[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35630-35631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15154]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 060203A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1438

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. Thane Wibbels, Department of 
Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-
1170, has

[[Page 35631]]

applied in due form for a permit to take Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys 
kempii), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and green (Chelonia mydas) sea 
turtles for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before July 
16, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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.

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 utilize tangle net methodology combined 
with observational surveys from boats to study sea turtles in the 
estuarine systems of Alabama state waters from Grand Bay to Perdido 
Bay. The purpose of the research is to provide a basic understanding of 
the abundance, location, and movement of sea turtles within these 
estuarine ecosystems. This research will help resource managers develop 
optimal management strategies for these estuaries in order to conserve 
and protect sea turtles and their habitat. The applicant proposes to 
take 30 Kemp's ridley, 30 loggerhead, and 30 green sea turtles 
annually. Turtles would be captured with a 9.9 inch (25 cm) mesh tangle 
net that is 731.7 feet (223 m) long by 19.7 feet (6 m) deep. Turtles 
would be measured, weighed, flipper tagged, blood sampled and released. 
A subset of five loggerhead and five Kemp's ridley sea turtles would be 
tagged with a sonic or satellite transmitter. 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: June 10, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-15154 Filed 6-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S