[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 53947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21183]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB463


Endangered Species; File No. 24387

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 NEFSC (Responsible Party: 
Jon Hare, Ph.D.), 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026, has 
applied in due form for a permit to take Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser 
oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley 
(Lepidochelys kempii), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys 
imbricata), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles for 
purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written or email comments must be received on or before October 
29, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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 
appropriate File No. 24387 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. 24387 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: Malcolm Mohead 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 exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 
parts 222-226).
    The above applicant requests a 5-year permit to conduct research on 
endangered and threatened sea turtles and Atlantic sturgeon in the U.S. 
Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zone from Massachusetts to Georgia, 
evaluating bycatch reduction of commercial fishing gear to mitigate sea 
turtle and sturgeon interactions in fisheries. Gear evaluated would be 
control and experimental tangle nets and trawl modifications. Once 
animals are captured and on the vessel, researchers would be authorized 
to handle and sample Atlantic sturgeon and sea turtles to measure, 
flipper tag (turtles), passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag, tissue 
(genetic) sample, photograph/video, and weigh before release. In 
addition to directed captures, animals that are legally captured in 
commercial fisheries would also be studied, conducting the same methods 
as listed above. Up to six sea turtles (all species combined) and 12 
Atlantic sturgeon could be killed or seriously harmed due to capture 
over the life of the permit.

    Dated: September 24, 2021.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-21183 Filed 9-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P