Endangered Species; File No. 1527, 49577-49578 [05-16842]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices Plan (FMP). The Council will consider alternatives and provide final approval on issues related to area rotation, specifications for trip and days-at-sea allocations in 2006 and 2007, a streamlined procedure to adjust the Elephant Trunk Area and open area allocations in 2007, the general category scallop fishery, crew size limits on controlled area access trips and a new bycatch data collection and monitoring program. Also included will be changes in controlled access area trip exchanges, the broken trip limit exemption program and the research set-aside program. Consideration of Framework Adjustment 18 is likely to take most of the day on Wednesday. Thursday, September 15, 2005 There will be a presentation of the assessment summary from the 41st Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop. Species to be addressed include summer flounder, bluefish and tilefish. This will be followed by a report on a video monitoring pilot study that explores alternative means to supplement and complement observer activities on fishing vessels. The Council also will discuss and consider establishing a control date for party and charter boats in the multispecies fishery, as recommended by the its Recreational Fishing Advisory Panel. During the remainder of the day the Council will take further action on Framework Adjustment 42 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP by identifying additional measures to be analyzed and further considered in the action. These will include the Category B (regular) days-at-sea pilot program, a formal rebuilding program for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder with associated measures, a standardized bycatch reporting methodology, and possible modifications to the rolling closures now in effect to reduce groundfish fishing mortality. The Transboundary Management Guidance Committee is scheduled to ask for approval of its recommendations for the 2006 total allowable catches for cod, haddock and yellowtail flounder in a specific area of Georges Bank that is governed by the U.S./Canada Resource Sharing Understanding. Prior to addressing any other outstanding business, the Council will consider and possibly approve retaining the 2005 herring specifications through the 2006 fishing year. Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subjects of formal action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any VerDate jul<14>2003 15:23 Aug 23, 2005 Jkt 205001 issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided that the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: August 19, 2005. Emily Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E5–4630 Filed 8–23–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 080205C] Endangered Species; File No. 1527 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the John A. Musick, Ph.D., Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), Gloucester Point, VA 23062, has applied in due form for a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), green (Chelonia mydas), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or before September 23, 2005. ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s): Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)713– 2289; fax (301)427–2521; and Northeast Regional Office, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone (978)281–9328; fax (978)281–9394. Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 49577 F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427–2521, provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for providing email comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: File No. 1527. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Opay or Shane Guan, (301)713– 2289. 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 222-226). The purpose of the proposed research is to study loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, leatherback, green, and hawksbill sea turtles in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay (Bay), and the Virginia (VA) and Maryland (MD) tributaries to the Bay to identify relative abundance over time; detect changes in sea turtle size and age composition; monitor and document movement and migration patterns; and to study sea turtle interactions with whelk pot gear. The applicant proposes to take up to 100 loggerhead, 30 Kemp’s ridley, 10 leatherback, 10 green, and 5 hawksbill sea turtles each year over the course of a 5-year permit. Of the 100 loggerhead turtles taken annually, 74 would be taken in VA waters, and the remaining 26 would be taken in MD waters. Likewise, the numbers by state of the other species are: 22 Kemp’s ridleys from VA and 8 from MD; 7 leatherbacks from VA and 3 from MD; 7 greens from VA and 3 from MD; and 3 hawksbills from VA and 2 from MD. Seventy-one of the loggerhead, 21 of the Kemp’s ridley, 7 of the leatherback, 7 of the green, and 3 of the hawksbill sea turtles are expected to be caught in pound nets. The remaining turtles would be captured utilizing relocation trawls as part of dredging activities authorized under separate permits and then turned over to the applicant. All turtles would be blood sampled, measured, weighed when practicable, flipper tagged, and PIT tagged. A subset of these animals would have satellite or E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1 49578 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices implementation. NMFS is seeking comments from interested parties on the revised guidelines. One or more constituent meetings are also planned to solicit feedback on the Program and the revised Program guidelines. This is not Dated: August 18, 2005. a solicitation of project proposals. Steve Leathery, DATES: Comments must be submitted by Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, email or mail by October 11, 2005. To National Marine Fisheries Service. support the continued evolution of the [FR Doc. 05–16842 Filed 8–23–05; 8:45 am] Program, and as part of the Program Guidelines revision, the Restoration BILLING CODE 3510–22–S Center plans to solicit feedback through one or more constituent meetings. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Meetings will be limited to approximately 30 participants and will National Oceanic and Atmospheric include facilitated break-out group Administration discussions to maximize feedback results. The first meeting will be held on [Docket No. 990907250–5223–03; I.D. 072905B] September 13, 2005, in Washington D.C. Subsequent meetings will be planned to Revised Guidelines for NOAA’s coincide with restoration-related Community-based Restoration conferences or meetings throughout Program 2006 to enable constituent participation without travel. These meetings will be AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries physically accessible to people with Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and disabilities. Requests for more Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), information regarding the September Commerce. meeting, including registration and ACTION: Request for comments on requests for sign language or other proposed revisions to Program auxiliary aids, should be directed to Guidelines for the NOAA CommunityRobin Bruckner (see FOR FURTHER based Restoration Program. INFORMATION CONTACT). SUMMARY: NMFS initiated a Community- ADDRESSES: Please send your comments based Restoration Program (Program) in by email to: CRP.Guidelines@noaa.gov, 1996 that provides Federal financial and or by mail to: Director, NOAA technical assistance to encourage locally Restoration Center, National Marine led coastal and marine habitat Fisheries Service, 1315 East West restoration, and to promote stewardship Highway (F/HC3), Silver Spring, MD and conservation values for NOAA trust 20910–3282. resources. The Program is a systematic FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: national effort to foster partnerships at Robin Bruckner, (301) 713–0174, or by national, regional and local levels to e-mail at Robin.Bruckner@noaa.gov. implement sound habitat restoration. Partnerships are forged between SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed government, not-for-profit Guidelines for the NOAA Communityorganizations, community groups, based Restoration Program were recreational and commercial fishing provided at 64 FR 53339, October 1, organizations, students and educational 1999. In that document, comments were institutions, businesses, youth sought on modifications to the Program conservation corps and private that would allow greater flexibility to landowners. Under the Program, support community-based habitat partners may contribute funding, land, restoration projects. Final Program technical assistance, workforce support Guidelines, including responses to or other in-kind services; promote local comments, were provided at 65 FR participation in habitat restoration 16890, March 30, 2000. Since the activities; undertake research and Guidelines were issued, the Program has monitoring to evaluate and improve experienced an increase in base funding project success; and facilitate and has subsequently implemented stewardship for restored resources at the increased numbers of locally initiated, local level. To date, the Program has grass-roots habitat restoration projects funded more than 1000 communitythrough partnerships at the local, based habitat restoration projects in 27 regional and national levels. The NOAA states, Canada, and the Caribbean. Restoration Center within NMFS is NMFS is issuing revised guidelines for issuing revised guidelines, proposed Program implementation for FY 2006 here, that reflect the evolution of the and beyond, to reflect the evolution of Program, including measures that are in the program since its original place or planned to enable the Program radio/sonic transmitters attached to their carapace, and would be laparoscopied and bone biopsied. Twenty loggerheads would be used in a whelk gear bycatch reduction study. VerDate jul<14>2003 15:23 Aug 23, 2005 Jkt 205001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 to demonstrate increased accountability for the expenditure of public dollars. Background Habitat loss and degradation threaten the long-term sustainability of the nation’s fishery resources. Over 75 percent of commercial fisheries and 80 to 90 percent of recreational marine and diadromous fishes depend on estuarine or coastal habitats for all or part of their life cycles. Protecting existing, undamaged habitat is a priority and should be combined with coastal habitat restoration to enhance the functionality of degraded habitat. Restored coastal habitat will help rebuild fisheries stocks and recover threatened and endangered species. Restoring marine and coastal habitats will help ensure that valuable natural resources will be available to future generations of Americans. The purpose of this document is to replace the Program Guidelines that were published in 2000, and outline the goals, objectives, and structure of the Program that will guide its implementation in FY 2006 and beyond. This notice also references changes made by NOAA to standardize evaluation criteria for its competitive grant programs. The Program will provide annual notification regarding the availability of funds through the NOAA Omnibus Federal Register Notice process and associated Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) detail, and will solicit project proposals once a year, or more. Electronic Access Information on the Program, including partnerships and projects that have been funded to date, can be found on the World Wide Web at: https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration. Overview of Changes to the Program Since the Program began, Congressional appropriations have increased from $250,000 in 1999 to $13.6 million in 2005. To effectively manage this growth, to provide better service to constituents, and to accurately report on the Program’s accomplishments, the Restoration Center has changed some of its practices and implemented a number of tools to increase efficiency and accountability. In 2001 a Restoration Center database was launched to track habitat acres created, established, rehabilitated, enhanced or protected; stream miles made accessible to diadromous fish; volunteer or community participation hours; restoration techniques used; habitat types and species benefited; and other parameters for Restoration Center supported projects. The database has E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49577-49578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16842]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 080205C]


Endangered Species; File No. 1527

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the John A. Musick, Ph.D., 
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), Gloucester Point, VA 
23062, has applied in due form for a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta 
caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys 
coriacea), green (Chelonia mydas), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys 
imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before September 23, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 
(301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; and
    Northeast Regional Office, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, 
MA 01930-2298; phone (978)281-9328; fax (978)281-9394.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and 
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals 
requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a 
hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427-2521, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
    Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing email comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 1527.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Opay or Shane Guan, (301)713-
2289.

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 
222-226).
    The purpose of the proposed research is to study loggerhead, Kemp's 
ridley, leatherback, green, and hawksbill sea turtles in the waters of 
the Chesapeake Bay (Bay), and the Virginia (VA) and Maryland (MD) 
tributaries to the Bay to identify relative abundance over time; detect 
changes in sea turtle size and age composition; monitor and document 
movement and migration patterns; and to study sea turtle interactions 
with whelk pot gear. The applicant proposes to take up to 100 
loggerhead, 30 Kemp's ridley, 10 leatherback, 10 green, and 5 hawksbill 
sea turtles each year over the course of a 5-year permit. Of the 100 
loggerhead turtles taken annually, 74 would be taken in VA waters, and 
the remaining 26 would be taken in MD waters. Likewise, the numbers by 
state of the other species are: 22 Kemp's ridleys from VA and 8 from 
MD; 7 leatherbacks from VA and 3 from MD; 7 greens from VA and 3 from 
MD; and 3 hawksbills from VA and 2 from MD. Seventy-one of the 
loggerhead, 21 of the Kemp's ridley, 7 of the leatherback, 7 of the 
green, and 3 of the hawksbill sea turtles are expected to be caught in 
pound nets. The remaining turtles would be captured utilizing 
relocation trawls as part of dredging activities authorized under 
separate permits and then turned over to the applicant. All turtles 
would be blood sampled, measured, weighed when practicable, flipper 
tagged, and PIT tagged. A subset of these animals would have satellite 
or

[[Page 49578]]

radio/sonic transmitters attached to their carapace, and would be 
laparoscopied and bone biopsied. Twenty loggerheads would be used in a 
whelk gear bycatch reduction study.

    Dated: August 18, 2005.
Steve Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16842 Filed 8-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.