[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 78974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31754]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[File No. 10022]
RIN 0648-XA086


Endangered Species

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Raymond Carthy, University of 
Florida, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 117 
Newins-Ziegler Hall, P.O. Box 110450, Gainesville, FL 32611, has 
requested a modification to scientific research Permit No. 10022-01.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before January 18, 2011.

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. 10022-02 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 
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 address listed above. 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 modification to Permit No. 
10022-01 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 10022-01, issued on May 12, 2010 (75 FR 26715) authorizes 
the permit holder to conduct research off the northwest coast of 
Florida. Researchers may capture loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green 
(Chelonia mydas), and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles 
by strike-net or set-net. Animals may be weighed, measured, 
photographed, skin biopsied, flipper and passive integrated transponder 
(PIT) tagged, and released. Researchers also are authorized to perform 
a subset of activities on sea turtles legally captured by relocation 
trawlers. A subset of sea turtles may have transmitters attached to 
assess habitat use and study whether relocation distances for sea 
turtles captured by relocation trawlers are appropriate.
    Dr. Carthy requests a modification to the permit to: (1) Increase 
the number of sea turtles (up to 50 loggerheads, 350 greens, and 200 
Kemp's ridleys) that may be taken annually; (2) authorize satellite 
tagging for captured loggerhead and Kemp's ridleys; and (3) authorize 
three additional research activities (epibiota removal, blood sampling, 
and carapace swabbing) for up to 30 captured animals of each species 
annually. A subset of the green sea turtles will also be captured by 
hand/dip net, flipper and PIT tagged, measured, weighed, photographed, 
and temporarily carapace marked. This work would assess changes in sea 
turtle abundance, physical characteristics, and habitat use in the area 
relative to historical data and assess potential impacts of Mississippi 
Canyon 252 oil to sea turtles for the Natural Resources Damage 
Assessment. The modification would be valid until the permit expires on 
April 30, 2013.

    Dated: December 13, 2010.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-31754 Filed 12-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P