[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 43 (Monday, March 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13096-13097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5309]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB054


Endangered Species; File No. 16598

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 Inwater Research Group, Inc. 
(Responsible Party and Principal Investigator: Michael Bresette), 4160 
NE Hyline Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957, has applied in due form for a 
permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), 
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys 
kempii) sea turtles for scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 4, 2012.

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. 16598 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:

[[Page 13097]]

    Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
phone (301) 427-8401; 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:
     By email to [email protected] (include the File 
No. in the subject line of the email),
     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: Amy Hapeman or Colette Cairns, (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 5-year permit to continue long-term 
research on the demographics and movements of green, loggerhead, 
hawksbill, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles in the Key West National 
Wildlife Refuge and extend this work to an additional study area, the 
Big Bend of Florida. The objectives of the research are to: (1) Obtain 
information on sea turtle abundance, size frequencies, and sex ratios; 
(2) determine the genetic origin of sea turtle populations in the 
region; (3) continue to monitor turtle foraging habits; (4) track 
prevalence of fibropapilomatosis in sea turtles; (5) track green sea 
turtle movements west of the Marquesas Keys; and (6) identify habitat 
preferences of hawksbill sea turtles in the Key West National Wildlife 
Refuge. Up to 160 green, 160 loggerhead, 75 hawksbill, and 66 Kemp's 
ridley sea turtles would be captured annually for flipper and passive 
integrated transponder tagging, blood and tissue sampling, 
morphometrics, photography, and weights. A subset of sea turtles would 
be lavaged and/or satellite tagged. In addition to captures, 
researchers would conduct vessel surveys to observe and count sea 
turtles in the area.

    Dated: February 29, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-5309 Filed 3-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P