[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 74712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29347]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD075
[Endangered Species; File No. 18136]


Issuance of Permit

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Larry Wood, LDWood BioConsulting, 
Inc., 425 Kennedy Street, Jupiter, FL 33468 has been issued a permit to 
take hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) for purposes of 
scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the 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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 17. 2014, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (79 FR 3181) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take hawksbill sea turtles had been submitted by the 
above-named individual. The requested permit has been issued 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 
parts 222-226).
    Mr. Wood has been issued a research permit to continue to describe 
the abundance and movements of an aggregation of hawksbill sea turtles 
found on the barrier reefs of southeast Florida. Up to 50 sea turtles 
may be approached during dives for observation and photographs 
annually. Up to 25 additional animals may be hand captured, measured, 
flipper and passive integrated transponder tagged, photographed, tissue 
sampled, and released annually. In addition, up to six sub-adult and 
six adult hawksbills may be captured for the above procedures and 
fitted with a satellite transmitter prior to their release. The permit 
is valid through September 30, 2019.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: December 5, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-29347 Filed 12-15-14; 8:45 am]
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