[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71670-71671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29667]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA054


Endangered Species; File No. 15606

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 Andre Landry, Ph.D., Texas A&M 
University at Galveston, Department of Marine Biology, 5007 Avenue U, 
Galveston, TX 77553, has applied in due form for a permit to take green 
(Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), loggerhead 
(Caretta caretta), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles 
for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before December 27, 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. 15606 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available 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
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.

    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the above 
listed address. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 
713-0376, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Please include the 
File No. in the subject line of the e-mail comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
Division at the above listed address. The request should set forth the 
specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be 
appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Cairns or Amy Hapeman, (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).
    Dr. Landry requests a five-year permit to take sea turtles for 
scientific research in Gulf of Mexico waters. The purposes of these 
projects are to: (1) Examine green sea turtle assemblages in sea grass 
habitats in Texas; (2) determine trends in seasonal abundance and 
movement of green, Kemp's ridley and loggerhead sea turtles in Texas 
and Louisiana estuaries; (3) characterize environmental estrogen uptake 
in green and Kemp's ridley sea turtles at a Texas Superfund site; and 
(4) document impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on sea turtle 
assemblages in the western Gulf of Mexico. The applicant proposes to 
capture by entanglement or cast net, transport, photograph, measure, 
weigh, flipper tag, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag, blood, 
fecal, epiphyte and tissue sample, attach satellite transmitters to and 
release sea turtles.
    In project 1, the applicant proposes to take up to 150 green, 30 
Kemp's ridley, and 20 loggerhead sea turtles annually. Sea turtles 
would be captured via entanglement or cast net, measured,

[[Page 71671]]

weighed, photographed, epibiota removed, flipper and PIT tagged, 
epiphyte and tissue sampled prior to release. Up to 120 green sea 
turtles would be additionally epiphyte sampled. An additional 25 green 
turtles would also be satellite tagged, tracked, and fecal sampled 
prior to release.
    In project 2, the applicant proposes to take up to 15 green, 135 
Kemp's ridley, and 10 loggerhead sea turtles via entanglement net 
annually. Turtles would be measured, weighed, photographed, epibiota 
removed, flipper and PIT tagged, epiphyte and tissue sampled. Another 
10 green, 14 Kemp's ridley, and 40 loggerhead sea turtles that have 
been legally captured by relocation trawlers working in conjunction 
with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would be authorized for these 
activities each year. A subset of up to 14 Kemp's ridley sea turtles 
would be satellite tagged, tracked, and fecal sampled annually.
    In project 3, the applicant proposes to take up to 12 green and 12 
Kemp's ridley sea turtles annually. Turtles would be collected via 
entanglement net, measured, photographed, weighed, epibiota removed, 
flipper and PIT tagged, and blood sampled.
    In project 4, the applicant proposes to take up to 20 green and 20 
loggerhead sea turtles annually. Sea turtles would be captured via 
entanglement or cast net, measured, weighed, photographed, epibiota 
removed, flipper and PIT tagged, blood and tissue sampled. Up to 200 
Kemp's ridley, 20 loggerhead, 20 green, and 10 hawksbill sea turtles 
would additionally be satellite tagged, tracked, blood and fecal 
sampled each year.

    Dated: November 19, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-29667 Filed 11-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P