[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 7776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4600]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 022096A]
Endangered Species; Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of a request to extend permit 962 (P509B),
and issuance of modification 2 to permit 878.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Carlos Diez and Robert van Dam
from the University of Central Florida (P509B) have applied in due form
to extend Permit 962. Notice is also given that modification 2 has been
issued to permit 878, held by Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (P553). Both permits authorize the take of listed sea
turtles for the purpose of scientific research, subject to certain
conditions set forth therein.
DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the request
to extend Permit 962 must be received on or before April 1, 1996.
ADDRESSES: The applications, permits, and related documents are
available for review by appointment in the following offices:
Office of Protected Resources, F/PR8, NMFS, 1315 East-West Hwy.,
Room 13307, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401);
or
Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, 9721 Executive Center
Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813-893-3141).
Written comments, or requests for a public hearing on the request
to extend Permit 962 should be submitted to the Chief, Endangered
Species Division, Office of Protected Resources.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The holders of Permit 962 request an
extension from 1 year to 5 years, under the authority of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and NMFS regulations
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 217-227). No
other change to the current authorization is requested. The current
permit authorizes the hand capture of 200 listed hawksbill sea turtles
(Eretmochelys imbricata) and 20 listed green sea turtles (Chelonia
mydas), to be examined, photographed, measured, and tagged. The
research location is Mona and Monito Islands, PR (18 deg.05' N.,
67 deg.54' W.). Some of the turtles may be lavaged, have blood or scute
samples taken, or have time-depth recorders attached. A four-year
extension would authorize this take annually until May 31, 2000. The
goal of the research is to provide information on the ecology and
population dynamics of the hawksbill that will make it possible to
improve the effectiveness of management efforts, addressing the
following recovery plan priorities: (1) The identification of important
marine habitats, (2) the determination of adult and juvenile
distribution and abundance, (3) the determination of sex ratios in the
juvenile population, (4) the evaluation of the extent of ingestion of
persistent marine debris, (5) the determination of growth rates and age
at sexual maturity, and (6) the quantification of threats to adults and
juveniles on foraging grounds. In justification for the extension of
this permit, recovery plans and other publications indicate that
studies such as abundance, distribution, growth rates, and sex ratios
should be conducted for at least 10 years.
Permit 878 authorizes research on loggerhead, green, Kemp's ridley,
hawksbill, and leatherback sea turtles in Florida waters. Some turtles
are authorized for blood samples, laparoscopic examinations, lavage,
and tumor collection. The purpose of the research is to investigate
life histories, habitat requirements, migratory behaviors, and threats
to the species. On February 20, 1996, Modification 2 was issued to
Permit 878, increasing the number of listed sea turtles authorized to
receive telemeters from 15 to 30. Issuance of this modification, as
required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such modification: (1)
Was applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate to the disadvantage
of the listed species that are the subject of this modification, and
(3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2
of the ESA.
Those individuals requesting a hearing on the request to extend
Permit 962 should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on this
particular request would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of
such hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in these permit
summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the
views of NMFS.
Dated: February 22, 1996
Russell J. Bellmer,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-4600 Filed 2-28-96; 8:45 am]
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