[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 26367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10786]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042804A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1245

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit modification.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that J. David Whitaker, South Carolina 
Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 12559, Charleston, South 
Carolina 29422-2559, has been issued a modification to scientific 
research Permit No. 1245.

ADDRESSES: The modification 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: Jennifer Jefferies or Carrie Hubard, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 13, 2003, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (68 FR 64320) that modification of Permit No. 
1245, issued May 19, 2000 (65 FR 36666), had been requested by the 
above-named individual. The requested modification has been granted 
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).
    Permit No. 1245 authorizes the permit holder to capture, handle, 
flipper and PIT tag, blood and tissue sample, perform ultrasound and 
release 350 loggerhead (Caretta caretta), 50 Kemp's ridley 
(Lepidochelys kempii), 10 green (Chelonia mydas), 5 hawksbill 
(Eretmochelys imbricata) and 3 leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) 
turtles along the Southeast United States coastline. The modification 
will authorize the researchers to satellite tag 9 loggerhead turtles 
and acoustic tag 24 loggerhead turtles in order to begin to determine 
feeding site fidelity and migratory patterns of juvenile loggerhead sea 
turtles along the South Carolina coastline. This modification will be 
authorized for the duration of the Permit which expires on October 31, 
2005.
    Issuance of this modification, 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 species which is the 
subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: May 6, 2004.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-10786 Filed 5-11-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S