[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 55352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25163]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD505


Endangered Species; File No. 18688

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for a permit modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS Pacific Islands Regional 
Office, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814 
[Responsible Party: Michael Tosatto], has requested a modification to 
scientific research Permit No. 18688.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before December 21, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The modification request 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. 18688 Mod 3 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: Amy Hapeman or Erin Markin, (301) 427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 
18688, issued on May 5, 2015 (80 FR 36769), is requested under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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).
    Permit No. 18688 authorizes the permit holder to conduct research 
on sea turtles bycaught in three longline fisheries in the Pacific 
Ocean around Hawaii and American Samoa to assess sea turtle post-
hooking survival, movements, and ecology in pelagic habitats. The 
permit authorizes examination, morphometrics, biological sampling, and 
tagging of live hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley 
(Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead 
(Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles and the 
collection of carcasses, tissues and parts from dead sea turtles. 
Authorized take numbers for each species were consistent with the 
number of turtles allowed to be bycaught via the biological opinion 
prepared for each fishery. The permit holder requests authorization to 
increase the number of animals for each species that may be taken for 
research in the American Samoa longline fishery to match the incidental 
take statement of a new biological opinion prepared for this fishery 
after Permit No. 18688 was issued. Live sea turtles would undergo the 
same procedures as currently authorized by the permit. No other changes 
are requested.

    Dated: November 16, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-25163 Filed 11-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P