[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 9 (Monday, January 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 2223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-495]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE85


Endangered Species

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

ACTION:  Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS has completed a draft Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment (PEA) on the Issuance of Endangered Species Act Permits for 
Scientific Research on Endangered and Threatened Sea Turtles in the 
North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before February 13, 2008.

ADDRESSES:  The PEA is available for review upon written request or by 
appointment in the following office:
    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; http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/review.htm.
    Written comments should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, 
Conservation and Education Division, F/PR1, at the above address.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427-2521, 
provided 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 e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
Sea Turtle Programmatic EA.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS has authority, delegated from the 
Secretary of Commerce, to issue permits for research and enhancement 
activities under Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Permits to take endangered or threatened 
non-marine mammal species are governed by the ESA and NMFS implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR 222.301-309. Where coordination with the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service is required regarding sea turtles, 
permits are subject to NMFS regulatory criteria at 50 CFR 222.309.
    NMFS is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
and 40 CFR 1508.27 to consider the significance of the effects of 
authorizing research activities on listed species of sea turtles 
(proposed action). The action being considered in this PEA was analyzed 
as a whole, by effects on affected interests, and by short- and long-
term effects. Additionally, the severity of the impacts was analyzed.
    NMFS is proposing to more efficently complete its review and 
issuance process for ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific research 
permits and permit modifications on sea turtle species in the North 
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. To date, NMFS 
analyzes each proposed permit action through separate EAs, one for each 
permit application. The preferred alternative would allow NMFS to more 
efficently analyze the potential collective environmental impact of 
research activities over the next five years.

    Dated: January 8, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-495 Filed 1-11-08; 8:45 am]
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