[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 157 (Monday, August 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54047-54048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19271]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE788


Endangered Species; File No. 20339

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 the NMFS Southeast Fisheries 
Center (SEFSC), 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149 [Responsible 
Party: Bonnie Ponwith], has applied in due form for a permit to take 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), 
green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill 
(Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and 
unidentified sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before September 14, 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. 20339 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.

[[Page 54048]]

    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 SEFSC requests a five-year permit to study sea turtles in the 
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Animals for study 
would be directly captured by trawl or obtained as legal bycatch from a 
commercial fishery. The purpose of this project is to assist in the 
development and testing of gear aboard commercial fishing vessels to 
mitigate interactions and capture of sea turtles. Researchers would be 
authorized to measure, weigh, apply a temporary carapace mark, flipper 
and Passive Integrated Transponder tagging, tissue sample, and 
photograph/video live sea turtles before release and to salvage 
carcasses and parts from dead sea turtles. Up to 253 loggerhead, 117 
Kemp's ridley, 116 leatherback, 62 green, 41 hawksbill, 41 olive ridley 
and 85 unidentified sea turtles would be sampled annually.

    Dated: August 9, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-19271 Filed 8-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P