[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67547-67548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19760]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 111406B]


Endangered Species; File No. 1540-03

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit modification.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that South Carolina Department of 
Natural Resources (SCDNR), Marine Resources Division, P.O. Box 12559, 
Charleston, SC 29422-2559 has been issued a modification to scientific 
research Permit No.1540-01.

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: Kate Swails or Patrick Opay, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 5, 2006, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (7 FR 58805) that a modification of Permit No. 
1540-01, February 6, 2006 (71 FR 7019), 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. 1540 currently authorizes the permit holder to study 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), 
green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and 
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles. The purpose of the 
research is to continue to document in-water relative abundances, size 
distributions, sex ratios, genetic contributions, and the health of sea 
turtles in coastal waters in the southeastern U.S. SCDNR is authorized 
to capture 146 loggerhead, 48 Kemp's ridley, 15 green, 1 leatherback, 
and 3 hawksbill sea turtles, during the first year of the permit's 
five- year period. The permit authorizes research on up to 346 
loggerhead, 48 Kemp's ridley, 15 green, 1 leatherback, and 3 hawksbill 
sea turtles annually for the remaining four years. Turtles are captured 
by trawls, handled, blood sampled, measured, flipper and Passive 
Integrated Transponder tagged, photographed, and released. A subsample 
of animals have barnacles and keratin removed from their shell, have 
cloacal samples taken, have laparoscopic and ultrasound exams, and have 
satellite transmitters attached. Up to 7 loggerhead and 1 leatherback 
captures could potentially result in accidental mortalities over the 
course of the entire permit. Additionally, up to 5 Kemp's ridley, 
green, or hawksbill sea turtles (combined total but no more than two of 
any given species) may potentially be taken as accidental mortalities 
over the course of the entire permit. The permit is issued for 5 years.
    The permit modification authorizes skin biopsy of 50 loggerhead sea 
turtles annually as well authorizing an increase in the number of 
turtles undergoing ultrasound, cloacal swabbing, keratin scraping, and 
having satellite transmitters attached. The number of sea turtles 
captured does not change. The goal of the additional research would be 
to assess the potential diversity of diets and foraging habits and 
document over-wintering habitats of loggerheads.
    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 endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.


[[Page 67548]]


    Dated: November 16, 2006.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-19760 Filed 11-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S