[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13477-13478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06376]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG104


Endangered Species; File No. 21233

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: Theophilus Brainerd, Ph.D.), 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 April 30, 2018.

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. 21233 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 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 ten-year permit to study sea turtles in the 
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea including 
international waters. The objectives of the research are to assess sea 
turtle populations for anthropogenic threats, abundance estimates, and 
population structure and mixing rates. Animals for study would be 
directly captured by hand, hoop net, pound net, seine, cast net, tangle 
net, or trawl or obtained for study from another legal source such as 
bycatch in a commercial fishery. Researchers would be authorized to 
examine, mark, image, collect morphometrics, collect a suite of 
biological samples, and attach transmitters to live sea turtles before 
release. A subset of these animals may also undergo hearing trials or 
laparoscopy and internal tissue sampling when transported and 
temporarily held in a facility before release. The SEFSC requests a 
small number of unintentional mortalities,

[[Page 13478]]

and collection of these carcasses, for each species that may result 
from capture activities. In addition, live animals may be harassed 
during vessel and aerial surveys for species counts and observation.

    Dated: March 26, 2018.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-06376 Filed 3-28-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P