[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68800-68801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20168]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 111706B]


Endangered Species; File No. 1448

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 166 Water Street, 
Room 211, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1097, [Responsible Party: 
Nancy

[[Page 68801]]

Thompson], has been issued a modification to scientific research Permit 
No. 1448.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 27, 2006, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (71 FR 56478) that a modification of Permit No. 
1448, issued January 9, 2004 (69 FR 3332), had been requested by the 
above-named organization. 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).
    The modification authorizes the NEFSC to biopsy sample up to 50 of 
the Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles greater than 25 cm 
total carapace length that the holder is currently authorized to handle 
and biologically sample under the existing permit. This research will 
help confirm observer identifications of sea turtles made by 
collaborating NOAA researchers for animals that have been already 
incidentally captured in legal commercial fisheries operating in state 
waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.
    Issuance of this modification, as required by the ESA was based on 
a finding that such permit modification (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.

    Dated: November 21, 2006.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-20168 Filed 11-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S