[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 462-463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33182]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE356


Endangered Species; File No. 19716

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 Robert Hardy, 100 8th Avenue 
Southeast Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & 
Wildlife Research Institute, St Petersburg, FL 33701, has applied in 
due form for a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green 
(Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), hawksbill 
(Eretmochelys imbricata), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea 
turtles for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before February 5, 2016.

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. 19716 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available 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.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    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: Arturo Herrera or Amy Hapeman, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act

[[Page 463]]

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).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit to locate and describe 
surface-pelagic drift communities of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of 
Mexico that serve as developmental habitat for surface-pelagic juvenile 
and neonate sea turtles, to quantify threats to pelagic sea turtles, 
and to gather information on their life-history, genetics, movements, 
behavior, and diet. Researchers would conduct vessel surveys to count 
and pursue for capture by dip net up to 300 loggerhead, 200 green, 60 
hawksbill, 130 Kemp's ridley and 10 leatherback sea turtles annually. 
An additional 150 loggerheads and 440 leatherbacks could be harassed 
annually during vessel surveys but would not be pursued for capture. 
Depending on life stage and size, captured sea turtles would have the 
following procedures performed prior to release: Measure, weigh, oral 
swab, esophageal lavage, skin and scute biopsy, flipper and passive 
integrated transponder tag, and/or epoxy attachment of a satellite or 
VHF transmitter. Voided fecal samples also would be collected 
opportunistically.

    Dated: December 29, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-33182 Filed 1-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P