[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 185 (Monday, September 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58812-58813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23492]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC253


Endangered Species; File No. 16733

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), 75 Virginia Beach 
Dr., Miami, FL 33149, has applied in due form for a permit to take 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley 
(Lepidochelys kempii), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), leatherback 
(Dermochelys coriacea), and olive ridley (L. olivacea) sea turtles for 
purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before October 24, 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. 16733 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:

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;
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, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.

    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation 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 and Conservation 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 SEFSC requests a five-year permit to conduct research on 
leatherback, loggerhead, green, hawksbill, olive ridley, and Kemp's 
ridley sea turtles in the North Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, 
Caribbean Sea and their embayments to improve stock assessments, fill 
data gaps, assess the impact of anthropogenic activities, and better 
manage and, ultimately, recover these species. The SEFSC requests to 
take 915 loggerheads, 560 greens, 455 Kemp's ridleys, 65 hawksbills, 60 
leatherbacks, 10 olive ridleys, and 24 unidentified/hybrid hardshells 
annually

[[Page 58813]]

for measurements, laboratory experiments, biological sampling, 
temporary marking, tracking, ultrasound, and/or attachment of 
transmitters before being released back to the wild. Turtles would be 
directly captured in water by hand or using nets or would be obtained 
from other legal sources. A minor number of mortalities is requested 
annually for turtles that could accidentally die during research. In 
addition, the SEFSC would observe 2,620 loggerheads, 565 greens, 615 
Kemp's ridleys, 287 hawksbills, 665 leatherbacks, 37 olive ridleys, and 
2,170 unidentified hardshells annually during aerial, vessel, and 
acoustic surveys.

    Dated: September 19, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-23492 Filed 9-21-12; 8:45 am]
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