96-4600. Endangered Species; Permits  

  • [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]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/29/1996
Department:
Commerce Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of receipt of a request to extend permit 962 (P509B), and issuance of modification 2 to permit 878.
Document Number:
96-4600
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.
Pages:
7776-7776 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
I.D. 022096A
PDF File:
96-4600.pdf