[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 3568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1570]



[[Page 3568]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011604A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1450

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 Jane Provancha, Dynamac 
Corporation, 100 Spaceport Way, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, has applied 
in due form for a permit to take green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 
loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) for purposes of scientific 
research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
February 25, 2004.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Wilkin (301) 713-2289 or Patrick 
Opay (301) 713-1401.

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 to study 
the abundance and distribution of green and loggerhead sea turtles in 
the waters of Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River Lagoon, Volusia and Brevard 
Counties, FL. The purpose of the research is to provide a basic 
understanding of the abundance, location, and movement of sea turtles 
within this estuarine ecosystem. The proposed research project would be 
a continuation of work that has been conducted by these researchers in 
this area since 1995. This research will help resource managers develop 
optimal management strategies in order to conserve and protect sea 
turtles and their habitat; recapture data provides important 
information on the biology of these species, including health 
condition, growth rates, residency and survival. Turtles will be 
captured in a large mesh (9 in/22cm) tangle net. Turtles will be 
retained on a vessel for the collection of morphometric data, flipper 
and PIT tagging, photographs, blood sampling, lavage, and release. 
Forty green sea turtles and 15 loggerhead turtles of all sizes will be 
captured annually. Twelve of the 40 captured green sea turtles will 
have sonic transmitters glued to the carapace. These turtles will be 
tracked and monitored using moored receivers. 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: January 16, 2004.
Carrie W. Hubard,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-1570 Filed 1-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S