[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 38585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18585]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XP72


Endangered Species; File No. 1596-02

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

ACTION:  Notice; issuance of permit modification.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that National Marine Fisheries Service 
Southwest Fisheries Science Center has been issued a modification to 
scientific research Permit No. 1596-01.

ADDRESSES:  The modification and related documents are available for 
review 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)427-2521;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562)980-4001; fax (562)980-4018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Patrick Opay (301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 13, 2009, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (74 FR 22517) that a modification of Permit No. 1596-
01 had been requested by the above-named organization. The requested 
modification has been granted 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 permit modification authorizes researchers to annually fat 
biopsy and ultrasound up to 38 leatherback sea turtles as part of a 
health and nutritional assessment of this species. It also provides 
authority to close approach and attach VHR/TDR/sonic tag/GPS/video 
camera units by suction cup on up to 20 leatherback sea turtles 
annually, and to later capture the same animals to remove the unit and 
then sample, tag, and attach another VHR/TDR/sonic tag/GPS/video camera 
unit to the animals before release. Additionally, the permit 
modification authorizes researchers to annually attach a VHR/TDR/sonic 
tag/GPS unit and tissue sample 20 leatherback sea turtles using a 
biopsy pole. The permit currently authorizes researchers to attach the 
unit or tissue sample 20 animals, not both. The number of leatherback 
sea turtles captured does not increase under the modification, but the 
mix of activities conducted on each animal does. The research may 
continue to occur in waters off the coast of the western United States 
through February 1, 2012.
    Issuance of this modification, 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: July 29, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-18585 Filed 8-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S