[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 97]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-8219]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121605C]


Endangered Species; Permit No. 1429

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

ACTION: Notice; modification of scientific research permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a request for modification of 
scientific research Permit No. 1429 submitted by the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) has been 
granted.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Opay or Amy Hapeman, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested amendment 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 provisions of 50 CFR 222.306 of 
the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened fish and wildlife (50 CFR 222-226).
    The modification extends the expiration date of the permit from 
December 31, 2005, to December 31, 2006, for takes of green (Chelonia 
mydas), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), olive ridley (Lepidochelys 
olivacea), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill (Eretmochelys 
imbricata) and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles. The 
permit allows the SEFSC to conduct sea turtle bycatch reduction 
research in the pelagic longline fishery of the western north Atlantic 
Ocean. The purpose of the research is to develop and test methods to 
reduce bycatch that occurs incidental to commercial pelagic longline 
fishing.
    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 any threatened and endangered 
species; and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: December 22, 2005.
Steve Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5-8219 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S