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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74711-74712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29346]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD505

Endangered Species; File No. 18688

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS Pacific Islands Regional 
Office, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814 
[Responsible Party: Michael Tosatto], has applied in due form for a 
permit to take hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley 
(Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback (Dermochelys imbricata), 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles for 
purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before January 15, 2015.

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. 18688 from the list of available applications.

[[Page 74712]]

    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the Permits and Conservation Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division by email to 
[email protected] (include the File No. in the subject line of 
the email), by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or at the address listed 
above.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the 
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Courtney Smith, (301) 
427-8401.

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 
parts 222-226).
    On September 22, 2014 notice (79 FR 56573) was published that the 
applicant requests a five-year research permit to conduct research on 
sea turtles bycaught in three longline fisheries in the Pacific Ocean 
around Hawaii and American Samoa to assess sea turtle post-hooking 
survival, movements, and ecology in pelagic habitats. NMFS is currently 
processing this request. The applicant is requesting to revise the 
number of turtles that could be taken for research in the Hawaii deep-
set longline fishery. Each species' take numbers would be reduced 
except for leatherback sea turtles which would increase from 13 to 24 
turtles annually. This change is needed to keep the requested research 
take activities consistent with a new 2014 Biological Opinion which 
changed the number of sea turtles that may be incidental bycaught in 
this commercial fishery. All other aspects of the application would 
remain the same.

    Dated: December 8, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-29346 Filed 12-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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