[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 100 (Thursday, May 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29741-29742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11388]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XH83


Endangered Species; File No. 1576

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 NMFS, Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center (NEFSC), 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026, has been 
issued a modification to scientific research Permit No. 1576.

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;
    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 Amy Hapeman, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 17, 2007, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (72 FR 52860) that an modification of Permit 
No. 1576, issued November 8, 2006 (71 FR 65471), 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

[[Page 29742]]

and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).
    The permit authorizes researchers to capture, hold, transport, 
measure, weigh, flipper and passive integrated transponder tag, 
satellite tag, collect tissue biopsy, photograph, salvage and necropsy 
up to 50 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and 50 Kemp's ridley 
(Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles annually through October 31, 2011. 
Researchers are authorized up to one accidental mortality of each 
species annually. Research will take place in the Atlantic Ocean off 
the coast of the eastern United States. The main purpose of the 
research is to use satellite-linked tags to obtain high-resolution 
information on the depth, temperature, and movement of these sea turtle 
species in areas coincident with Northeast fisheries.
    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 such endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: May 14, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-11388 Filed 5-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S