[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 91 (Thursday, May 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 26207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10092]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB053]


Endangered Species; File Nos. 21467 and 22822

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for permit modifications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that two applicants have requested 
permit modifications to take green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill 
(Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles for purposes of scientific 
research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before June 14, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The modification requests 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 
via email to [email protected].
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Please include File No. in the subject 
line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request via email to [email protected]. The request 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application 
would be appropriate.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit modifications 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. 21467-03: Karen Holloway-Adkins, Ph.D., East Coast 
Biologists, Inc., P.O. Box 33715, Indialantic, FL 32903, proposes to 
modify Permit No. 21647-02. Permit No. 21467 was originally issued on 
May 10, 2018 (83 FR 27545; June 13, 2018). A minor modification to the 
permit was issued on March 8, 2021 (Permit No. 21467-01). The permit 
authorizes the permit holder to determine (1) spatial and temporal 
distribution, (2) mean size, (3) foraging habitats and diet 
composition, (4) body conditions and fibropapillomatosis ratios, (5) 
genetic origin, and (6) home-range, site fidelity, and residency times 
of green and loggerhead sea turtles in Brevard County, Florida. 
Researchers may capture by tangle, cast or dip net or hand, measure, 
mark, biologically sample, tag, weigh, and photograph sea turtles prior 
to release. The permit holder requests authorization to (1) increase 
the number of loggerhead sea turtles from 6 to 10 individuals annually 
for the authorized methods listed above and (2) add another 10 
loggerhead sea turtles annually for capture, tagging (PIT, flipper), 
biological sampling, measuring, weighing, and photographing prior to 
release. The permit is valid through September 30, 2027.
    File No. 22822-04: Pamela Plotkin, Ph.D., Texas Sea Grant, Texas 
A&M University, 797 Lamar Street, 4115 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, 
proposes to modify Permit No. 22822-01. Permit No. 22822 was originally 
issued on September 26, 2019 (84 FR 54121; October 9, 2019). A minor 
modification to the permit was issued on January 21, 2020 (Permit No. 
22822-01). The permit authorizes the permit holder to determine the 
spatiotemporal distribution of green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, and 
loggerhead sea turtles in Matagorda Bay, Texas. Researchers may capture 
by tangle net, biologically sample, tag, mark, measure, weigh, and 
photograph/video sea turtles prior to release. The permit holder 
requests authorization to (1) increase the number of green sea turtles 
from 10 to 20 individuals annually for the authorized methods listed 
above and (2) add another 8 green sea turtles annually for capture, 
flipper tagging, biological sampling, measuring, weighing, and 
photographing prior to release. The permit is valid through December 
31, 2021.

    Dated: May 6, 2021.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-10092 Filed 5-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P