[Federal Register: September 15, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 178)]
[Notices]               
[Page 49335-49336]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15se98-46]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 090498C]

 
Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for a scientific research permit (1178); 
Issuance of a scientific research permit (1155).

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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: NMFS has received a permit 
application from Michael P. Sissenwine, Ph.D., Science and Research 
Director, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS (NEFSC) (1178); and 
NMFS has issued a scientific research permit to Dr. Tim King, of US 
Geological Survey - BRD - Leetown Science Center (LSC) (1155).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the 
application must be received on or before October 15, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications, permit, and related documents are 
available for review in the following offices, by appointment:
    Director, Northeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, One Blackburn Drive, 
Glouster, MA, 01930-2298 (978-281-9250); and
    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For permit 1155: Terri Jordan, 
Endangered Species Division, Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401).
    For permit 1178: Michelle Rogers, Endangered Species Division, 
Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Permits are requested and issued under the authority of section 10 
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and 
the NMFS regulations governing ESA-listed fish and wildlife permits (50 
CFR parts 217-227).
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on the request for a permit 
should set out the specific reasons why a hearing would be appropriate 
(see ADDRESSES). The holding of such a hearing is at the discretion of 
the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and 
opinions contained in the below application summaries are those of the 
applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.

New Application Received

    NEFSC (1178) has requested a 5-year scientific research permit for 
listed sea turtles incidentally taken in fisheries in the Northwest 
Atlantic. The work will be conducted by scientific observers aboard 
such vessels. The following species and take numbers have been 
requested: 300 loggerhead (Caretta caretta), 85 leatherback 
(Dermochelys coriacea), 10 Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi), 10 
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and 10 green (Chelonia mydas) 
turtles. The applicant has requested authorization to measure, 
photograph, flipper tag, scan for PIT tags, resuscitate (if necessary) 
and release turtles taken in foreign and domestic commercial fishing 
vessels operating in state waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone. 
Further, the applicant has requested authority to bring to shore, when 
feasible, dead sea turtles for necropsy. Necropsy will only be 
performed by personnel currently permitted to conduct such research. 
This research supports the National Marine Fisheries Service's mission 
of assessing the impacts of commercial fisheries on marine resources of 
interest to the United States.

Permit Issued

    Notice was published on June 3, 1998 (63 FR 30199), that an 
application had been filed by LSC for a 5-year permit to possess the 
DNA of listed shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum).

[[Page 49336]]

Permit 1155 was issued on July 21, 1998, and expires on July 31, 2003.

    Dated: September 9, 1998.
Kevin Collins,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-24724 Filed 9-14-98; 8:45 am]
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