[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 120 (Monday, June 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37433-37434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13358]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA237]


Endangered Species; File Nos. 21111, 23683, and 23851

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for permits and a permit 
modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that three applicants have applied in 
due form for a permit or permit modification to take green (Chelonia 
mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys 
kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead (Caretta 
caretta), and olive ridley (L. olivacea) sea turtles for purposes of 
scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 22, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Each 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 the 
applicable File No. 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 37434]]

    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 the application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Erin Markin, (301) 427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits and permit modification 
are 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).
    File No. 21111-02: NMFS, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8901 
La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, (Responsible Party: 
Robin LeRoux), proposes to modify Permit No. 21111-01. The permit, 
originally issued on February 15, 2018 (83 FR 13731, March 30, 2018), 
authorizes researchers to conduct long-term monitoring of leatherback 
sea turtles off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. 
Researchers may conduct vessel-based research on leatherbacks including 
captures, observation, transmitter attachment, marking, measurements, 
imaging, and biological sampling. The permit holder requests 
authorization to (1) use a manned 'spotter' aircraft and unmanned 
aircraft system (UAS) to assist leatherback capture efforts, (2) 
increase the number of animals captured from 15 to 20 animals annually 
in line 1 of the take table, (3) attach an acoustic tag to animals to 
evaluate fine-scale leatherback movements and habitat use, (4) analyze 
the microbiome of collected cloacal and fecal samples to evaluate 
leatherback health and body condition, and (5) add personnel to conduct 
the request aerial methods. The permit is valid through September 30, 
2027.
    File No. 23683: Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, 
163 Dairy Road, Mangilao, Guam 96913, (Responsible Party: Jay 
Gutierrez), proposes to obtain information on green and hawksbill sea 
turtle movement, distribution, abundance, genetics, and health status 
in waters around Guam. Up to 45 green and 10 hawksbill sea turtles 
would be captured by hand or tangle net, tagged (flipper, passive 
integrated transponder [PIT]), biologically sampled (skin), measured, 
weighed, and photographed/videoed, annually, prior to release. A subset 
of turtles may receive a satellite tag (epoxy attachment). The permit 
would be valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.
    File No. 23851: Michael Arendt, South Carolina Department of 
Natural Resources, Marine Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, 
South Carolina, proposed to assess the abundance, distribution, 
demographic structure, genetics, and health of green, Kemp's ridley, 
leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley sea turtles in waters off the 
coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida. Up to 3 green, 
30 Kemp's ridley, 1 leatherback, 130 loggerhead, and 2 olive ridley sea 
turtles would be captured by trawl, tagged (flipper, PIT), biologically 
sampled (blood, lesion, scute), measured, weighed, and photographed/
videoed, annually, prior to release. A subset of turtles may receive a 
satellite or acoustic tag (epoxy attachment). Up to 12 green, 1 Kemp's 
ridley, and 1 loggerhead sea turtles may be captured under another 
authority, tagged (flipper, PIT), biologically sampled (blood, lesion, 
scute), measured, weighed, photographed/videoed, and receive a 
satellite or acoustic tag (epoxy attachment), annually, prior to 
release. Unintentional mortality of one green, one Kemp's ridley, one 
leatherback, and two loggerhead sea turtles could happen over the life 
of the permit. The permit would be valid for up to 10 years from the 
date of issuance.

    Dated: June 16, 2020.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-13358 Filed 6-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P