[Federal Register: January 4, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 1)] [Notices] [Page 148-149] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr04ja99-64] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 122398B] Endangered Species; Permits AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits (1189, 1190). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 permit applications from: Dr. James Kirk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station (WES) (1189), and Charles Karnella, NMFS Southwest Region (NMFS-SER) (1190). DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the applications must be received on or before February 3, 1999. ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for review in the following offices, by appointment: For permit 1189: Protected Resources Division, F/SER3, 9721 Executive Center Dr., St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813-570-5312) For permit 1190: Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310-980-4016). All documents may also be reviewed by appointment in the 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 1189: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401) For permit 1190: Michelle Rogers, Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the 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. Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject to parts 217-222 of Title 50 CFR, the NMFS regulations governing listed species permits. Species Covered in this Notice The following species are covered in this notice: Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), and Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum). New Applications Received WES (1189) requests a 3-year permit to take and conduct research on endangered shortnose sturgeon to characterize the Ogeechee River system shortnose sturgeon population size, age, structure and growth; document seasonal movement and habitat preferences; identify, if possible, spawning and rearing sites and develop [[Page 149]] population models to evaluate anthropogenic effects, population trends, and define a recovering or steady-state population. NMFS-SWR (1190) requests a 5-year scientific research permit to take up to 150 loggerhead, 10 green, 10 hawksbill, 25 leatherback, and 10 olive ridley sea turtles annually in the Pacific Basin for the purpose of determining take rates of sea turtles taken incidental to the Hawaiian longline fishery, and to determine the fate of sea turtles released alive after incidental capture. Trained observers may weigh, measure, flipper tag, satellite tag, tissue sample, blood sample, stomach lavage, and release sea turtles taken incidental to the Hawaiian longline fishery. This is a continuation of work permitted under scientific research permit 924, which expires on February 28, 1999. Dated: December 28, 1998. Margaret Lorenz, Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 98-34797 Filed 12-31-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F