[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37327-37328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16043]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA518


Endangered Species; File No. 16253

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 NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center (SEFSC; Responsible Party: Bonnie Ponwith), has applied in due 
form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley 
(Lepidochelys kempii), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), leatherback 
(Dermochelys coriacea), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), and 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles for scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before July 27, 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. 16253 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)427-8401; fax (301)713-0376;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978)281-9328; fax (978)281-9394; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, 
Florida 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
     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

[[Page 37328]]

above. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing 
on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristy Beard or Amy Hapeman, (301)427-
8401.

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 applicant requests a five-year permit to conduct research on 
leatherback, loggerhead, green, hawksbill, olive ridley, and Kemp's 
ridley sea turtles in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea 
and their tributaries. The purpose of the research is to evaluate 
modifications to commercial fishing gear to mitigate sea turtle 
interactions and capture under two projects, Project A (Turtle Excluder 
Device Evaluations in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Trawl Fisheries) and 
Project B (Modifications to Longline Fisheries Gear). These evaluations 
and subsequent gear modifications could help to reduce incidental 
turtle bycatch in the gear types studied and provide data to improve 
stock assessments, assess the impact of anthropogenic activities, and 
better manage and recover these species. Annual requested take numbers 
under Project A are: 225 loggerheads, 98 Kemp's ridleys, 82 
leatherbacks, 47 greens, 33 hawksbills, 33 olive ridleys, and 85 
unidentified/hybrid turtles. A subset of these animals would be 
captured during trawl research; the rest of the turtles would be 
captured within fisheries managed by another Federal authority. Annual 
requested take numbers under Project B are: 28 loggerheads, 3 Kemp's 
ridleys, 30 leatherbacks, 4 greens, 4 hawksbills, 3 olive ridleys, and 
3 unidentified/hybrid turtles. All animals would be handled, measured, 
weighed, photographed, flipper tagged, passive integrated transponder 
tagged, skin biopsied, and released.

    Dated: June 21, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-16043 Filed 6-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P