Endangered Species; File No. 15566

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Federal RegisterNov 3, 2010
75 Fed. Reg. 67682 (Nov. 3, 2010)

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice; receipt of application.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division, Charleston, S.C. 29422-2559, has applied in due form for a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

DATES:

Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or before December 3, 2010.

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. 15566 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:

  • By e-mail to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov (include the File No. in the subject line of the e-mail),
  • By facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or
  • At the above address.

Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division at the above address. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kristy Beard or Amy Hapeman, (301) 713-2289.

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 222-226).

The purpose of this research is to assess temporal change in catch rates, size distributions, sex and genetic ratios, and health of sea turtles. Up to 345 loggerhead, 29 Kemp's ridley, 9 green, 1 leatherback, and 1 hawksbill sea turtle would be captured annually by trawl in coastal waters between Winyah Bay, SC and St. Augustine, FL. Turtles would be handled, blood sampled, measured, flipper and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagged, photographed, and released. A subsample of animals would be authorized for barnacle, keratin, and fecal sampling, cloacal swabs, laproscopy, ultrasound, and attachment of satellite and/or VHF transmitters. Up to five loggerhead, one Kemp's ridley, one green, one leatherback, and one hawksbill sea turtle could be accidentally killed over the life of the permit. The permit would be valid for 5 years.

Dated: October 28, 2010.

Tammy C. Adams,

Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 2010-27776 Filed 11-2-10; 8:45 am]

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