[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22517-22518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11190]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XP17


Endangered Species; File No. 14381

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

ACTION:  Notice; receipt of application.

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

SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that NMFS Pacific Islands Region, 1601 
Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96814, has applied in due form for a 
permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys 
coriacea), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), olive ridley (Lepidochelys 
olivacea), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for 
purposes of scientific research.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before June 12, 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, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/index.cfm, and then 
selecting File No. 14381 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
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 944-2200; fax (808) 973-2941.
    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.

[[Page 22518]]

    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: 
File No. 14381.

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 research would collect scientific data on sea turtles 
incidentally captured in the Hawaii Deep-Set Longline Fishery, the 
Hawaii Shallow-Set Longline Fishery, and the American Samoa Longline 
Fishery. This data would assist NMFS efforts to understand sea turtle 
interactions with the fisheries and to mitigate their threat to these 
species. The applicant proposes to flipper tag, measure, photograph, 
tissue sample, and attach satellite tags to an anticipated annual take 
of up to 46 loggerhead, 16 leatherback, one green, and four olive 
ridley sea turtles captured in the Hawaii Deep-Set Longline Fishery. 
The applicant proposes to flipper tag, measure, photograph, tissue 
sample, and attach satellite tags to an anticipated annual take of up 
to six loggerhead, one leatherback, six green, six olive ridley, and 
six hawksbill sea turtles captured in the American Samoa Longline 
Fishery. The applicant proposes to flipper tag, measure, photograph, 
tissue sample, and attach satellite tags to an anticipated annual take 
of up to six (18 over three years) loggerhead, 13 (39 over three years) 
leatherback, seven (21 over three years) green, and 41 (123 over three 
years) olive ridley sea turtles captured in the Hawaii Shallow-Set 
Longline Fishery. The research would occur in the Pacific Ocean through 
April 1, 2015. No mortalities are expected from the research. 
Researchers would also collect sea turtle carcasses of animals killed 
in fishery activities that occur in the Pacific Ocean.

    Dated: May 6, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-11190 Filed 5-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S