Endangered Species; File No. 16598, 13096-13097 [2012-5309]

Download as PDF 13096 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2012 / Notices analysis and issues relevant to the activities presented in this notice. All interested parties who wish to provide comment may submit written comments to the NOAA Restoration Center electronically or by original hard copy to the address provided above. For more detailed background information, including program descriptions, restoration project types, and the aforementioned environmental assessment documents, please visit the NOAA Restoration Center Web site. NOAA will update the information on the Web site periodically throughout the public scoping process as needed. Authority The authority for these actions include the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1891a), and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661). Dated: February 28, 2012. Brian Pawlak, Acting Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2012–5310 Filed 3–2–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XB057 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. AGENCY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene Scoping Meetings on a proposed generic amendment addressing dealer permits and electronic logbook reporting, as well as two amendments to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan (CMP FMP): one that addresses sale of bag limit caught fish and permit requirements and the other that addresses boundaries and transit provisions. erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: The scoping meetings will be held from March 19, 2012 through April 3, 2012 at nine locations throughout the Gulf of Mexico. The scoping meetings will begin at 6 p.m. and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. For specific dates, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:06 Mar 02, 2012 Jkt 226001 The scoping meetings will be held in the following locations: Destin, Key West and Fort Myers, FL; Kenner and Grand Isle, LA; Biloxi, MS; Mobile, AL; Galveston and Port Aransas, TX. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. ADDRESSES: Dr. Richard Leard, Deputy Executive Director/Senior Fishery Biologist; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has scheduled Scoping Meetings on a proposed generic amendment that would consider changes to the current requirements for dealer permits and the potential for electronic reporting requirements. A potential Amendment 19 to the CMP FMP would consider limits or prohibition on sale of bag limit caught king and Spanish mackerel, as well as cobia. It also considers potential changes to regulations regarding maintaining and renewing commercial fishing permits and adding a commercial permit requirement to sell cobia. A potential Amendment 20 to the CMP FMP would consider potential changes to the existing commercial boundaries and zones along with their associated quotas and trip limits along with possible allowance for transit through closed fishing zones. The nine scoping meetings will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at the end of public testimony or no later than 9 p.m. at the following locations: Monday, March 19, 2012, Hilton Galveston, 5400 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston Island, TX 77551; telephone: (409) 744–5000. Tuesday, March 20, 2012, Four Points by Sheraton, 940 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MS 39530–4138; telephone: (228) 546–3100. Wednesday, March 21, 2012, Plantation Suites & Conference Center, 1909 Highway 361, Port Aransas, TX 78373; telephone: (361) 749–3866; and Courtyard Marriott, 1000 West I–65 Service Road South, Mobile, AL 36609; telephone: (251) 344–5200. Thursday, March 22, 2012, Courtyard Marriott, 100 Grand Boulevard, Destin, FL 32550; telephone: (850) 650–7411. Monday, March 26, 2012, Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, Key West, FL 33040; telephone: (305) 295–5000. Wednesday, March 28, 2012, Hyatt Place, 2600 Champion Ring Road, Fort Myers, Florida 33905; telephone: (239) 418–1844. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Monday, April 2, 2012, Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport—2829 Williams Boulevard, Kenner, LA 70062; telephone: (504) 467–5611. Tuesday, April 3, 2012, Wildlife & Fisheries Department Lab, 195 Ludwig Lane, Grand Isle, LA 70358; telephone: (985) 787–2163. Copies of the scoping documents can be obtained by calling (813) 348–1630 or by visiting the Council’s Web site at www.gulfcouncil.org. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kathy Pereira at the Council (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the meeting. Dated: February 28, 2012. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2012–5182 Filed 3–2–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XB054 Endangered Species; File No. 16598 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that Inwater Research Group, Inc. (Responsible Party and Principal Investigator: Michael Bresette), 4160 NE Hyline Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957, has applied in due form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles for scientific research. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before April 4, 2012. 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. 16598 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05MRN1.SGM 05MRN1 erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2012 / Notices 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; and Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701; phone (727) 824–5312; fax (727) 824–5309. Written comments on this application should be submitted to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division: • By email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov (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, Conservation and Education 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 Colette Cairns, (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 222–226). The applicant requests a 5-year permit to continue long-term research on the demographics and movements of green, loggerhead, hawksbill, and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge and extend this work to an additional study area, the Big Bend of Florida. The objectives of the research are to: (1) Obtain information on sea turtle abundance, size frequencies, and sex ratios; (2) determine the genetic origin of sea turtle populations in the region; (3) continue to monitor turtle foraging habits; (4) track prevalence of fibropapilomatosis in sea turtles; (5) track green sea turtle movements west of the Marquesas Keys; and (6) identify habitat preferences of hawksbill sea turtles in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. Up to 160 green, 160 loggerhead, 75 hawksbill, and 66 Kemp’s ridley sea turtles would be captured annually for flipper and passive integrated transponder tagging, blood and tissue sampling, morphometrics, photography, and weights. A subset of sea turtles would be lavaged and/or satellite tagged. In addition to captures, researchers would conduct vessel surveys to observe and count sea turtles in the area. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:06 Mar 02, 2012 Jkt 226001 Dated: February 29, 2012. P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2012–5309 Filed 3–2–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XB053 Endangered Species; File Nos. 15661, 10027, and 15685 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Issuance of permits and permit modification. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued two permits and one permit modification to take green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for scientific research. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for information regarding permittees. SUMMARY: The permit and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: 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; and Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm. 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814–4700; phone (808) 944–2200; fax (808) 973–2941. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Colette Cairns, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 11, 2011, notice was published in the Federal Register (76 FR 27306) that a request for a scientific research permit to take green and hawksbill sea turtles had been submitted by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Division of Fish and Wildlife, (Arnold Palacios, Responsible Party). On June 15, 2011, notice was published in the Federal Register (76 FR 34967) that a request for a scientific research permit modification to take green sea turtles had been submitted by the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History (AMNH; Responsible Party: Eleanor Sterling, Ph.D.). On June 20, 2011, notice was published in the ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13097 Federal Register (76 FR 35842) that a request for a scientific research permit to take green and hawksbill sea turtles had been submitted by the NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC; Samuel Pooley, Ph.D., Responsible Party). The requested permits and permit modification have been issued 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). The following summarizes each permit. The CNMI was issued a five-year permit, No. 15661, to conduct research on sea turtles to characterize population structure, size class composition, foraging ecology, and migration patterns for green and hawksbill sea turtles in the Northern Mariana Islands. Authorized research consists of counts and hand captures of sea turtles during vessel surveys. Captured sea turtles may be measured, weighed, flipper tagged, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagged, temporarily marked, tissue sampled, photographed, and released. A subset of the turtles may be satellite tagged before release and then tracked from the vessel. A small number of sea turtle carcasses, tissues or parts may be opportunistically salvaged each year. The AMNH was issued a modification to Permit No. 10027–03, originally issued on July 30, 2008 (73 FR 44224). Permit No. 10027–03 authorized the AMNH to study the population biology and connectivity of green and hawksbill sea turtles focusing on distribution and abundance, ecology, health, and threats to sea turtles at the Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. This modification, Permit No. 10027–04, increases the number of green sea turtles taken during research and the number of green sea turtles that may be sonic tagged annually. These data will help determine if temporal, stage-specific, or sex-specific movement patterns exist for the population of sea turtles at Palmyra. The modified permit expires on July 31, 2013. The PIFSC was issued a five-year permit, No. 15685, to continue longterm monitoring of green and hawksbill sea turtles in the Hawaiian Islands to determine growth rates, health status, stock and population structure, foraging ecology, habitat use, and movements. Researchers may capture, measure, flipper and PIT tag, weigh, biologically sample (tissue, blood, scute, and lavage), and attach transmitters to green and hawksbill sea turtles before release. Issuance of the permits, as required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permits (1) were applied for in E:\FR\FM\05MRN1.SGM 05MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 43 (Monday, March 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13096-13097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5309]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB054


Endangered Species; File No. 16598

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Inwater Research Group, Inc. 
(Responsible Party and Principal Investigator: Michael Bresette), 4160 
NE Hyline Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957, has applied in due form for a 
permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), 
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys 
kempii) sea turtles for scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 4, 2012.

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. 16598 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:

[[Page 13097]]

    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; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division:
     By email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov (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, Conservation and Education 
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 Colette Cairns, (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 
222-226).
    The applicant requests a 5-year permit to continue long-term 
research on the demographics and movements of green, loggerhead, 
hawksbill, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles in the Key West National 
Wildlife Refuge and extend this work to an additional study area, the 
Big Bend of Florida. The objectives of the research are to: (1) Obtain 
information on sea turtle abundance, size frequencies, and sex ratios; 
(2) determine the genetic origin of sea turtle populations in the 
region; (3) continue to monitor turtle foraging habits; (4) track 
prevalence of fibropapilomatosis in sea turtles; (5) track green sea 
turtle movements west of the Marquesas Keys; and (6) identify habitat 
preferences of hawksbill sea turtles in the Key West National Wildlife 
Refuge. Up to 160 green, 160 loggerhead, 75 hawksbill, and 66 Kemp's 
ridley sea turtles would be captured annually for flipper and passive 
integrated transponder tagging, blood and tissue sampling, 
morphometrics, photography, and weights. A subset of sea turtles would 
be lavaged and/or satellite tagged. In addition to captures, 
researchers would conduct vessel surveys to observe and count sea 
turtles in the area.

    Dated: February 29, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-5309 Filed 3-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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