[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 23305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10037]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA385


Endangered Species; File No. 15672

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Molly Lutcavage, PhD, University 
of Massachusetts, Amherst, 108 Main Street, Gloucester MA, 01930, has 
applied in due form for a permit to take leatherback sea turtles 
(Dermochelys coriacea) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before May 26, 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. 15672 
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
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978) 281-9328; fax (978) 281-9394.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division:
     By e-mail to [email protected] (include the File 
No. in the subject line of the e-mail),
     By facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or
     At the address listed above.
    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 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).
    Research authorized under Permit No. 15672 would characterize the 
distribution, movements and dive behavior of leatherback sea turtles in 
the waters of New England. This research would inform our understanding 
of leatherback habitat utilization, foraging behavior, and threats 
posed by entanglement risk. Researchers propose to conduct research on 
up to 30 leatherback sea turtles annually. Researchers would use 
animals that have been disentangled from fishing gear by the stranding 
network or they would capture the animals using a breakaway hoopnet. 
Turtles would be measured, weighed, photographed and videotaped, 
flipper and passive integrated transponder tagged, blood, tissue, and 
fecal sampled, cloacal, oral, and nasal swabbed, tagged with an 
electronic transmitter, and released. The permit would be issued for 5 
years.

    Dated: April 19, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-10037 Filed 4-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P