[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2846-2847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00806]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE400


Endangered Species; File No. 19637

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 Allen Foley, Florida Fish and 
Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 
370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218, 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 purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before February 18, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
``Features'' box on

[[Page 2847]]

the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) home page, 
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 19637 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 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 conduct research in 
Southwest Florida Bay to monitor the abundance of loggerhead and green 
sea turtles, characterize the aggregations of loggerheads, Kemp's 
ridleys, and hawksbills, and determine the movements, behaviors, and 
habitat-use of loggerheads. The research will be late-spring to late-
summer (May-August) in southwestern Florida Bay and within the 
boundaries of the Everglades NP in the vicinity of Arsnicker, Rabbit, 
and Twin Keys. The applicant expects to approach and count up to 100 
green sea turtles annually during vessel surveys and to capture up to 
125 loggerheads, 10 Kemp's ridleys, and 5 hawksbills annually. Sea 
turtles will be captured by hand and the following procedures would be 
performed before release: Measure, photograph, weigh, flipper tagging, 
passive integrated transponder tagging, temporary carapace marking, and 
blood sample. Up to 10 of the loggerheads also would have tumors tissue 
sampled annually.

    Dated: January 12, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00806 Filed 1-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P