[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 7443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3274]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XU26


Endangered Species; File No. 14381

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

ACTION:  Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that NMFS Pacific Islands Region, 1601 
Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96814 has been issued a permit to 
take green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), and 
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of 
scientific research.

ADDRESSES:  The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s):
    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
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)944-2200; fax (808)973-2941.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Kate Swails or Amy Hapeman, (301)713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 22, 2009, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (74 FR 23995) that a request for a scientific research 
permit had been submitted by the above-named organization. The 
requested permit has been issued 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 parts 222-226).
    The researchers will collect scientific data on sea turtles 
incidentally captured in the Hawaii Deep-Set Longline Fishery, the 
Hawaii Shallow-Set Longline Fishery, and the American Samoa Longline 
Fishery. These data will assist NMFS efforts to understand sea turtle 
interactions with the fisheries and to mitigate their threat to these 
species. The applicant will flipper tag, measure, photograph, tissue 
sample, and attach satellite tags to an anticipated annual take of up 
to 46 loggerhead, 16 leatherback, 1 green, and 4 olive ridley sea 
turtles captured in the Hawaii Shallow-Set Longline Fishery; up to 6 
loggerhead, 6 leatherback, 12 green, 12 olive ridley, and 6 hawksbill 
sea turtles captured in the American Samoa Longline Fishery; and up to 
6 (18 over three years) loggerhead, 13 (39 over three years) 
leatherback, 7 (21 over three years) green, and 41 (123 over three 
years) olive ridley sea turtles captured in the Hawaii Deep-Set 
Longline Fishery. The research will occur in the Pacific Ocean through 
the permit's expiration on March 1, 2015. No mortalities are expected 
from the research. Researchers would also collect sea turtle carcasses 
of animals killed in fishery activities that occur in the Pacific 
Ocean.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: February 12, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-3274 Filed 2-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S