[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 148 (Thursday, August 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51300-51301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16495]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD215]


Endangered Species; File No. 23639

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 Coonamessett Farm Foundation, 
Inc., 277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth, MA 02536, (Responsible Party: 
Ronald Smolowitz), has requested a modification to scientific research 
Permit No. 23639-01.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 5, 
2023.

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. 23639 mod 5 from the

[[Page 51301]]

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. 23639 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, Ph.D., 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 
23639, issued on September 25, 2020 (85 FR 63524, October 8, 2020) is 
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).
    Permit No. 23639-01 authorizes the permit holder to study the 
behavior and distributions of green (Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley 
(Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles in U.S. waters from Maine 
through North Carolina. Researchers may capture sea turtles by dip or 
encirclement net, and perform the following procedures before release: 
morphometrics, photography, marking, a suite of biological sampling, 
and transmitter attachment. After release, animals may be temporarily 
tracked with an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV). 
Leatherbacks may be sighted and tracked by a manned aircraft for 
subsequent vessel-based research later in the same day involving remote 
attachment of a suction-cup tag, ROV tracking, and remote passive 
integrated transponder (PIT) tag scanning. Sea turtles may also be 
pursued during unsuccessful capture or remote tagging attempts. The 
permit holder requests authorization to: (1) increase the number of 
Kemp's ridley sea turtles captured from 15 to 30 annually; (2) increase 
the number of loggerhead sea turtles captured from 30 to 60 annually; 
(3) attach up to 2 transmitters (acoustic + satellite or camera tag) at 
a time on large hard-shelled turtles; and (4) add 2 satellite tag 
models as alternative tag unit options when tagging hard-shelled 
turtles. This modification would accommodate new funding to conduct sea 
turtle surveys that would inform wind energy development in the 
Atlantic. The modification would be valid until the permit expires on 
September 30, 2030.

    Dated: July 28, 2023.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-16495 Filed 8-2-23; 8:45 am]
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