Permits: Endangered and threatened species,

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Federal Register: September 1, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 169)NoticesPage 46416-46417From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr01se98-30

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

I.D. 082698AEndangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of application for a modification to scientific research permit 1053.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Molly Lutcavage, New England Aquarium, has applied in due form for a modification to scientific research permit 1053 to take listed leatherback turtles.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this application must be received on or before October 1, 1998.

[Page 46417]

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for review by appointment in the following offices:

Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Hwy., Room 13307, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and Director, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 (978-281-9250).

Written comments, or requests for a public hearing on this application should be submitted to the Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Molly Lutcavage, New England Aquarium (1053), requests a modification to scientific research permit 1053 under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 217-227).

Dr. Lutcavage has requested a modification to scientific research permit 1053, issued to her in July 1997 to satellite tag, PIT tag, blood sample, weigh, measure, and photograph eight (8) listed leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles captured incidental to commercial fishing activities in the western north Atlantic ocean. Due primarily to fishery closures, no leatherback turtles have been captured; therefore, the applicant would like to modify her current research permit to allow direct in-water capture of 8 leatherback turtles. The turtles would be captured using a breakaway hoop net, a method that has been used successfully to capture porpoise, pinnipeds, and small cetaceans. Additionally, the applicant requests a 2-year extension to permit 1053 which will expire on December 31, 1998. The applicant has requested an extension through December 31, 2000.

Those individuals requesting a hearing should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on this particular application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in this application summary are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.

Dated: August 26, 1998. Kevin Collins, Chief, Endangered Species Division, National Marine Fisheries Service.

FR Doc. 98-23534Filed8-31-98; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 3510-22-F

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