[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 152 (Thursday, August 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 42510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20848]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 073097A]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of Scientific Research Permit 1053, Issuance of 
Modification 4 to Scientific Research Permit 962, and Notice of Receipt 
of Application for a Scientific Research Permit (P648).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that on July 14, 1997, NMFS issued 
scientific research permit 1053 to Molly Lutcavage, of the New England 
Aquarium (P645), to take listed leatherback turtles, and on July 23, 
1997, NMFS issued modification 4 to scientific research permit 962 
issued to Carlos Diez and Robert van Dam, Puerto Rico Department of 
Natural and Environmental Resources (P509B), to take listed hawksbill 
and green turtles for the purpose of scientific research subject to 
certain conditions set forth therein. Notice is also given that Samuel 
S. Sadove of Coastal Research & Education Society of Long Island, Inc. 
(P648) has applied in due form for a scientific research permit to take 
listed sea turtles.

ADDRESSES: The application, permit, and related documents are available 
for review by appointment in the following offices:
    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Hwy., 
Room 13307, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and
    Director, Northeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 (508-281-9250).
    or
    Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, 9721 Executive Center 
Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813-893-3141).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice was published on May 8, 1997 (62 FR 
25174) that an application had been filed by Dr. Molly Lutcavage, New 
England Aquarium (P645), to take listed leatherback turtles as 
authorized by 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 217-222).
    Dr. Lutcavage requested a one year permit to satellite tag eight 
(8) listed leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles to determine 
vulnerability of leatherbacks to incidental capture by pelagic longline 
fisheries; to relate specific travel routes of leatherback turtles 
equipped with satellite transmitters to fishing activities and 
oceanographic features; to assist pelagic fishermen in the development 
of fishing techniques that reduce interactions with leatherback 
turtles; and to develop safe handling procedures and satellite 
attachment techniques. On July 14, 1997, NMFS issued Permit 1053 
authorizing the above activities.
    Notice was published on June 17, 1997 (62 FR 32768) that a request 
had been filed by Carlos Diez (P509B), to modify permit 962, to take 
listed sea turtles as authorized by 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 217-222).
    Carlos Diez and Robert van Dam are authorized under permit 962 to 
examine, photograph, measure, and tag 200 listed hawksbill 
(Eretmochelys imbricata) and 20 listed green (Chelonia mydas) sea 
turtles annually, in the waters surrounding Mona and Monito Islands, 
Puerto Rico. Additionally, some of the turtles may be lavaged, have 
blood or scute samples taken, or have time-depth recorders or 
crittercams attached. Modification 4, issued by NMFS on July 23, 1997, 
authorizes the following modifications to permit 962: 1) an increase in 
the level of take of hawksbill turtles to a total of 300 annually; 2) 
an increase in the level of take of green turtles to a total of 100 
annually; 3) authorization to net capture green turtles; 4) 
authorization to include the Puerto Rican Islands of Culebra, Vieques, 
Desecheo, and Caja de Muertos in the study area; 5) authorization to 
collect up to 10 cc's of blood from all turtles taken under the 
authority of this permit for genetic analysis and sex determination; 
and 6) authorization to include Teresa Tellevast, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, as an agent under this permit.
    Samuel S. Sadove, Coastal Research & Education Society of Long 
Island, Inc. (P648), requests a Scientific Research Permit 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).
    The applicant is requesting a three year permit to take listed 
Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), 
green (Chelonia mydas), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea 
turtles to determine the distribution, habitat use, survivorship, and 
recruitment of turtles in New York State waters. The turtles would be 
weighed, measured, photographed, blood sampled, fecal sampled, and 
tagged. The proposed study would continue ten years of research 
initiated by the applicant while acting as an agent for the New York 
State Department of Environmental Conservation, pursuant to the State 
of New York ESA Section 6 cooperative agreement.
    Issuance of these permits/modifications, as required by the ESA, 
was based on a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) were 
applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of 
the listed species that is/are the subject of the permits/
modifications, and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies 
set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: July 31, 1997.
Nancy Chu,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-20848 Filed 8-6-97; 8:45 am]
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