Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
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###### Department of Commerce

###### National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

          - [I.D. 042601E]

# AGENCY:

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

# ACTION: 

Receipt of an application for a research permit (1304).

# SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding permits for takes of endangered and threatened species for the purposes of scientific research and/or enhancement under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): NMFS has received an application for a scientific research permit from Dr. William C. Coles, of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife, United State Virgin Islands.

# DATES:

Comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the new applications or modification requests must be received at the appropriate address or fax number no later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on June 1, 2001.

# ADDRESSES: 

Written comments on the new application should be sent to the appropriate office as indicated below.  Comments may also be sent via fax to the number indicated for the application.  Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet.  The applications and related documents are available for review in the indicated office, by appointment:

For permit 1304: Endangered Species Division, F/PR3, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone:301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-0376).

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (phone: 301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-0376, e-mail: Terri.Jordan@noaa.gov)

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## Authority

Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on a finding that such permits/modifications:  (1) are applied for in good faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species which are the subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.  Scientific research and/or enhancement permits are issued under Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA.  Authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits.  Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject to the ESA and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).

                    Those individuals requesting a hearing on an application listed in this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that application 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 the permit action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.                

## Species Covered in This Notice

The following species are covered in this notice:

### Sea turtles

                    Threatened and endangered Green turtle (                    *Chelonia mydas*)                

                    Endangered Hawksbill turtle (                    *Eretmochelys imbricata*)                

                    Endangered Leatherback turtle (                    *Dermochelys coriacea*)                

                    Threatened and endangered Olive ridley turtle (                    *Lepidochelys olivacea*)                

## New Applications Received

### Application 1304

The applicant requests a permit to take endangered and threatened sea turtles in the U.S. Virgin Islands for scientific research.  The applicant proposes to capture, handle, tag, collection of biological samples and release green, hawksbill, leatherback and olive ridley turtles.

Dated: April 26, 2001.

Phil Williams,

Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 01-11017  Filed 5-1-01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE  3510-22-S