[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 65471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18881]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082306A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1576

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS, Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center (NEFSC), 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026, has been 
issued a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), leatherback 
(Dermochelys coriacea), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), green 
(Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley 
(Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles for purposes of scientific 
research.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 28, 2006, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (71 FR 25153) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take loggerhead, leatherback, Kemp's ridley, green, 
hawksbill, and olive ridley sea turtles had been submitted by the 
above-named organization. The requested permit has been issued 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 
parts 222-226).
    Researchers will test modifications to scallop dredge gear that may 
reduce the probability of turtle injuries due to gear interactions. 
They will also opportunistically collect biological information from 
sea turtles captured in other projects or fisheries to improve NMFS's 
ability to assess stocks and the impact of anthropogenic activities. 
The researchers will annually capture and/or handle, measure, weigh, 
flipper tag, passive integrated transponder tag, tissue biopsy, collect 
parts from, photograph, and release up to 81 loggerhead, 10 
leatherback, 27 Kemp's ridley, 11 green, 1 hawksbill, and 1 olive 
ridley. Up to 23 loggerheads and 1 leatherback, 1 Kemp's ridley, and 1 
green sea turtle could be taken lethally annually. The research would 
occur in the Western Atlantic Ocean (Florida Keys through Maine) and 
the permit would be issued for 5 years.
    Issuance of this permit, 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 endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 ofthe ESA.

    Dated: November 2, 2006.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-18881 Filed 11-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S