[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11181-11182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03333]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF215


Endangered Species; File No. 20315

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 Kristen Hart, Ph.D., U.S. 
Geological Survey, 3205 College Ave., Davie, Florida, 33314 has applied 
in due form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill 
(Eretmochelys imbricata), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles 
for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before March 23, 2017.

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. 20315 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: Erin Markin 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

[[Page 11182]]

exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    The applicant requests a five-year research permit to continue 
projects studying green, hawksbill, and loggerhead sea turtles in the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, including Buck Island Reef National Monument, 
Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, and Virgin Islands 
National Park. Proposed research would involve vessel surveys for 
abundance counts and capture of turtles to determine connectivity of 
populations, monitor movement, identify habitat utilization, estimate 
abundance, and determine diet composition of sea turtles. Annually, up 
to 160 green, 190 hawksbill, and 10 loggerhead sea turtles would be 
captured by hand, rodeo, or dip, tangle, or cast nets. Each turtle 
would be subject to epibiota removal, flipper and passive integrated 
transponder tagging, temporary carapace marking, morphometric 
measurements, gastric lavage, photograph/video, opportunistic 
recapture, fecal collection, and blood/tissue sampling. Loggerhead sea 
turtles and a subset of green and hawksbill sea turtles would also be 
outfitted with up to three transmitters at a time.

    Dated: February 15, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03333 Filed 2-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P