[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 165 (Friday, August 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50302-50303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17040]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082305A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1544

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that East Coast Observers Inc., 
Patricia Bargo, Principal Investigator, PO Box 6192, Norfolk Virginia 
23508, has applied in due form for a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta 
caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), 
Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and leatherback (Dermochelys 
coriacea) marine turtles, and shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser 
brevirostrom) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before September 26, 2005.

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)427-2521; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
    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)427-2521, 
provided

[[Page 50303]]

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. 1544.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Opay or Layne Bolen, (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 East Coast Observers, Inc. proposes to perform marine turtle 
abundance and relocation trawls in conjunction with U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (Corps) dredging projects in the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 
Collected marine turtles would be handled, measured, flipper and PIT 
tagged, and released. A single tissue sample may be taken from each 
individual turtle for genetic analysis. Collected shortnose sturgeon 
would be captured, handled and released. The applicant is requesting 
the following annual take of juvenile, immature, and adult marine 
turtles and shortnose sturgeon: 750 loggerheads, 500 greens, 300 Kemp's 
ridleys, 10 hawksbills, 10 leatherbacks and 50 shortnose sturgeon. The 
permit would be issued for five years.

    Dated: August 23, 2005.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-17040 Filed 8-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S