[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 45761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16294]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC209]


Endangered Species; File No. 26268

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Kate Mansfield, Ph.D., University 
of Central Florida, Biology, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Bldg. 20, Room 
301, Orlando, FL 32816-2368, has applied in due form for a permit to 
take green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's 
ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles for purposes of scientific 
research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before August 29, 2022.

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. 26268 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. 26268 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 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 applicant proposes to continue three long-term projects on 
juvenile, subadult, and adult sea turtle populations in the central 
Indian River Lagoon (Project 1); Trident Turning Basin, Cape Canaveral 
Space Force Station (Project 2); and Gulf of Mexico waters offshore 
Louisiana to western Florida (Project 3). Researchers would assess sea 
turtle population structure, abundance, distribution, habitat, sex 
ratios, physiology, genetics, epidemiology, and foraging ecology. For 
Project 1, up to 150 green, two hawksbill, three Kemp's ridley, one 
leatherback, and 100 loggerhead sea turtles would be captured by tangle 
or dip net, marked, photographed, measured, weighed, have cloacal 
temperature measured, and biologically sampled (blood; skin, tumor, and 
scute biopsy; gastric lavage; voided feces; and/or cloacal, oral, skin 
and ocular swabs) prior to release. A subset of loggerhead and green 
sea turtles may receive two transmitter types (satellite, acoustic, or 
radio) at a time. For Project 2, up to 135 green, one hawksbill, one 
Kemp's ridley, one leatherback, and 10 loggerhead sea turtles would be 
captured by tangle or dip net, marked, photographed, measured, weighed, 
have cloacal temperature measured, and biologically sampled (blood; 
skin, tumor, and scute biopsy; gastric lavage; voided feces; and/or 
cloacal, oral, skin and ocular swabs) prior to release. A subset of 
green sea turtles may receive two transmitter types (satellite, 
acoustic, or radio) at a time. For Project 3, up to 25 green, five 
hawksbill, 25 Kemp's ridley, and five loggerhead sea turtles would be 
captured by dip net, marked, photographed, measured, weighed, have 
cloacal temperature measured, biologically sampled (blood; skin, tumor, 
and scute biopsy; gastric lavage; voided feces; and cloacal, oral, skin 
and ocular swabs), and outfitted with up to two transmitters types 
(satellite, acoustic, or radio) at a time prior to release. The permit 
would be valid for 10 years.

    Dated: July 26, 2022.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-16294 Filed 7-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P