[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 46166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19934]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110802A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1405

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the South Carolina Department of 
Natural Resources, Charleston, SC 29422-2559, has been issued a permit 
to take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys 
kempi), green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and 
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of 
scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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;
    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: Ruth Johnson (301)713-2289 or Patrick 
Opay (301) 713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 25, 2002, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (67 FR 70583) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, 
hawksbill, and green sea turtles had been submitted by the above-named 
individual. The requested permit has been issued 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 parts 222-226).
    The applicant will handle, tag, measure, weigh, photograph and 
release the above mentioned sea turtles in order to collect data from 
in-water captures that can be used by management agencies and 
scientists for better understanding of these species and to promote 
their protection and recovery.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered or threatened species 
which are the subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the 
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: July 30, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-19934 Filed 8-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S