[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 26715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11336]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XW36


Endangered Species; File No. 1596

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

ACTION:  Notice; receipt of application for modification

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

SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center (SWFSC) [Responsible Party: Lisa Ballance], 3333 N. Torrey Pines 
Ct., La Jolla, CA 92037, has requested a modification to scientific 
research Permit No. 1596-02.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before June 11, 2010.

ADDRESSES:  The modification request 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. 1596-03 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) 713-0376; and
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted 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 modification 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. 1596-03.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 1596-
02, issued on July 29, 2009 (74 FR 38585), is requested under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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).
    Permit No. 1596-02 authorizes the SWFSC to capture, measure, weigh, 
blood and tissue sample, photograph, flipper and PIT tag, fat biopsy, 
ultrasound, satellite tag, and attach a VHF/TDR/sonic tag/video system, 
VHR/TDR/sonic tag/GPS unit, or VHR/TDR/sonic tag/GPS/video camera 
system to leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles during 
research activities conducted off the western coast of the continental 
United States. Animals with the video camera system may be re-
approached to collect the unit and then sampled, tagged, and have 
another video camera unit attached. The SWFSC requests authorization to 
use a direct tag attachment method in place of previously authorized 
harness attachments. These tags would provide valuable information on 
leatherback movements and behavior in the Pacific Ocean between their 
foraging areas and nesting beaches. No increase in the number of 
animals taken is requested. The research would continue to occur in 
waters off the coast of the western United States through February 1, 
2012.

    Dated: May 6, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-11336 Filed 5-11-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S