[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3682-3683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1342]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011405B]


Endangered Species; File No. 1475

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

ACTION: Receipt of permit application addendum.

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SUMMARY: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC), 
Florida Marine Research Institute (Richard E. Matheson, Principal 
Investigator), 1481 Market Circle, Unit 1, Port Charlotte, FL 33953, 
has submitted a request to modify their permit application (File No. 
1475). The original application requested

[[Page 3683]]

authorization to conduct scientific research on smalltooth sawfish 
(Pristis pectinata).

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
February 25, 2005.

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)427-2521; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
modification 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 the particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427-2521, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
    Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing email comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 1475.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Jefferies or Patrick Opay, 
(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).
    A notice of receipt of an application from the FFWCC to conduct 
scientific research on smalltooth sawfish was published on May 21, 2004 
(69 FR 29274). The FFWCC sought authorization to sample and track 
smalltooth sawfish throughout Florida coastal waters. Annually, up to 
200 fish were to be captured via seines, hook and line, and gill nets, 
measured, weighed, PIT and rototagged, tissue sampled, and the fish 
subsequently released. Additionally, a subset of 50 fish annually were 
to also receive acoustic transmitters and a subset of 25 fish annually 
were to also receive satellite transmitters. The permit has not been 
issued yet but the FFWCC has amended its application to include an 
annual take of sea turtles. Specifically, the FFWCC is seeking 
authorization to capture, measure, and release three loggerhead 
(Caretta caretta), three Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), three 
green (Chelonia mydas), two hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and two 
leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles annually.

    Dated: January 18, 2005.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-1342 Filed 1-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S