[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 54 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 13488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6250]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XV33


Endangered Species; File No. 14949

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 Carlos Diez, Bureau of Fisheries 
and Wildlife, San Juan, PR 00906-6600, has applied in due form for a 
permit to take hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green (Chelonia 
mydas) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 21, 2010.

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/, and then selecting File 
No. 14949 from the list of available applications. These documents are 
also 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) 713-0376; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    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) 713-0376, 
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. 14949.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Kate Swails or Carrie Hubard (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 purpose of the research is to provide information on the 
ecology and population dynamics of hawksbill and green turtles 
inhabiting the waters surrounding Puerto Rico and the adjacent islands 
including Mona, Monito, Desecheo, Caja-de-Muertos, Vieques, the Culebra 
Archipelago, and the Tres Palmas reserve. In addition, researchers 
would monitor the prevalence of fibropapillomatosis, a debilitating 
disease know to occur in green turtle foraging aggregations in Puerto 
Rico. Researchers would annually capture up to 320 hawksbill and 252 
green sea turtles by hand or entanglement net. Turtles would be 
measured, weighed, tagged, and blood or skin biopsy sampled. A subset 
of up to 10 hawksbill and 10 green sea turtles per year would be 
satellite tagged. A subset of up to 10 green turtles per year from the 
Culebra study sites may undergo fibropapillomatosis tumor removal 
surgery and subsequent rehabilitation.
    In the case of a green turtle evidencing severe internal tumors, 
the turtle may be euthanized; this is not expected to apply to more 
than 2 turtles per year. The permit is requested for 5 years.

    Dated: March 16, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-6250 Filed 3-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S