[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 151 (Monday, August 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 48157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16952]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC238]


Endangered Species; File No. 25818

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 Paul Jobsis, Ph.D., University of 
the Virgin Islands, Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, 2 John 
Brewers Bay, St. Thomas, VI 00802, has applied in due form for a permit 
to take green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles for purposes of scientific 
research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before September 7, 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. 25818 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. 25818 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, Ph.D., 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 applicant proposes to continue long-term studies on juvenile, 
subadult, and adult sea turtle populations in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
Researchers would assess habitat use, foraging behaviors, anthropogenic 
impacts, predator and prey interactions, social interactions, gender 
ratios, and diet. Up to 140 green, 70 hawksbill, and five loggerhead 
sea turtles annually may be captured by hand or tangle net, tagged 
(acoustic, passive integrated transponder, flipper), marked, measured, 
have cloacal temperature measured, biologically sampled (blood, fecal, 
skin), tracked, recaptured for gear removal, weighed, and photographed/
videoed, prior to release. A subset of sea turtles may receive either a 
satellite tag (epoxy attachment) or an animal-borne camera (suction-cup 
attachment) and an acoustic tag (drill carapace attachment), prior to 
release. The permit would be valid for 10 years.

    Dated: August 3, 2022.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-16952 Filed 8-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P