[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6118-6119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2393]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA179


Endangered Species; File No. 14726

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Blair Witherington, PhD, Florida 
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 9700 South A1A, Melbourne 
Beach, FL 32951, has requested a modification to scientific research 
Permit No. 14726.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before March 7, 2011.

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. 14726-01 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301) 713-2289; fax (301) 713-0376; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the above 
address. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, 
or by e-mail to [email protected]. Please include the File No. 
in the subject line of the e-mail comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
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: Amy Hapeman or Kristy Beard, (301) 
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 14726 
is requested under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973,

[[Page 6119]]

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 222-226).
    Permit No. 14726, issued on September 3, 2010 (75 FR 61133), 
authorizes research to locate and describe areas of the Atlantic Ocean 
and Gulf of Mexico near Florida that serve as developmental habitat for 
pelagic-stage juvenile and neonate loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green 
(Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), hawksbill 
(Eretmochelys imbricata), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea 
turtles, to quantify threats to pelagic sea turtles, and to gather 
information on their life-history, genetics, movements, behavior, and 
diet. Researchers are authorized to capture by dip net, flipper and 
passive integrated transponder tag, measure, weigh, and oral swab sea 
turtles. A subset of animals may be skin biopsied, lavaged or have a 
satellite tag attached.
    Dr. Witherington requests a modification to the permit to: (1) 
Increase the number and life stages of sea turtles (up to 600 
loggerheads, 550 greens, 100 hawksbills, and 550 Kemp's ridleys) that 
may be taken annually; (2) authorize fecal sampling for all animals and 
satellite tagging for a subset of green sea turtles; and (3) expand the 
authorized study area to include the entire Gulf of Mexico. This work 
would (1) identify threats to pelagic sea turtles, and (2) document the 
density, condition, diet, and potential Mississippi Canyon 252 oil 
exposure of pelagic sea turtles associated with floating Sargassum as 
part of the post-spill Natural Resources Damage Assessment of the BP 
Deepwater Horizon event. The modification would be valid through 
December 31, 2011.

    Dated: January 28, 2011.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-2393 Filed 1-31-11; 4:15 pm]
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