[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8230-8231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3935]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XN37


Endangered Species; File No. 14249

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

ACTION:  Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that Ronald Smolowitz, Coonamessett 
Farm Foundation, Inc., 277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth, MA 02536, 
has applied in due form for 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.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before March 26, 2009.

ADDRESSES:  The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, http://www.apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/index.cfm, and then 
selecting File No. 14249 from the list of available applications. These 
documents are also 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; and
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9333.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and 
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
    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

[[Page 8231]]

providing e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 14249.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested 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 applicant proposes to evaluate modifications to scallop dredge 
gear that may reduce the probability of turtle injuries due to 
interactions with gear. The applicant also proposes to study sea turtle 
behavior so that behavior can be factored into bycatch reduction 
strategies and collect biological and animal health information to 
improve NMFS' ability to assess stocks and the impact of anthropogenic 
activities. Up to 17 loggerhead and 6 leatherback, hawksbill, olive 
ridley, green, or Kemp's ridley in any combination, would be taken 
during the dredge gear study annually. All of these takes could result 
in injury or mortality. Up to 100 loggerheads would be followed by a 
remotely operated vehicle annually during the behavior study. Up to 10 
loggerheads would be captured annually by hoop net and have a satellite 
transmitter or Crittercam attached to their carapace. All animals that 
are handled in these studies would be measured, flipper and passive 
integrated transponder tagged, tissue sampled, cloacal swabbed, nasal 
swabbed, photographed, weighed, and released. Dead animals could be 
salvaged for scientific purposes. The applicant requests a 5 year 
permit and research activities would occur in the Atlantic Ocean off 
the coast of the northeastern United States.

    Dated: February 17, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-3935 Filed 2-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S