[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37312-37313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13331]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC113]


Endangered Species; File No. 21233

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 Southeast Fisheries Center 
(SEFSC), 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149 (Responsible Party: 
Mridula Srinivasan, Ph.D.), has requested a modification to scientific 
research Permit No. 21233-03.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 22, 2022.

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. 21233 mod 7 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. 21233 mod 7 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: Amy Hapeman or Erin Markin, (301) 427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 
21233-03, originally issued on August 7, 2018 (83 FR 47606), is 
requested

[[Page 37313]]

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. 21233-03 authorizes the permit holder to study sea 
turtles in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea 
including international waters. Animals for study may 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. Animals captured in pound nets may be exposed 
to a sound source. Researchers may 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. A small number of unintentional mortalities, and 
collection of these carcasses, for each species may result from capture 
activities. In addition, live animals may be harassed during vessel and 
aerial surveys for species counts and observation. The permit holder 
requests authorization to reallocate the annual take of 100 green 
(Chelonia mydas), 100 Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and 200 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles from Table 1 to Table 2 of the 
permit so that takes to study animals that were legally captured under 
another authority instead may be used for the direct capture of these 
animals by trawl and attachment of satellite transmitters. Researchers 
will use the data to inform Deepwater Horizon restoration planning and 
assess the impacts and effectiveness of restoration activities in the 
northern Gulf of Mexico. The permit would remain valid until September 
30, 2027.

    Dated: June 16, 2022.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-13331 Filed 6-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P