Permits: Endangered and threatened species,

[Federal Register: October 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 204)]

[Notices]

[Page 57069-57070]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr22oc99-38]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100499C]

Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of an application for a scientific research permit (1227); receipt of an application to modify a permit (1051); and issuance of a permit (1219).

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 Dr. Peter Dutton, of NMFS-Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) (1227); NMFS has received an application for modifications to an existing permit from Mr. Jorgen Skjeveland, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) (1051); and NMFS has issued a permit to Mr. Larry Goodman, of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1219).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on either the new application or the modification request must be received on or before November 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for review in the following office, by appointment: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301-713-1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (301- 713-1401).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (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

[[Page 57070]]

consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits. Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject to the ESA and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).

Those individuals requesting a hearing on an application listed in this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such hearing is at the discretion of the Director, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS. All statements and opinions contained in the permit action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.

Species Covered in This Notice

The following species are covered in this notice:

Sea Turtles

Endangered Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

Fish

Endangered Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum).

New Application Received

SWFSC has applied for a 2-year scientific research permit (1227) that would authorize takes of leatherback sea turtles. Recent studies suggest that leatherback turtles gather in California waters during early fall, and that Monterey Bay is an important forage area for leatherback turtles in the Pacific. This study proposes to capture up to 5 of these turtles for genetic stock identification and equip them with transmitters to track movements and dive behavior. This will serve as a feasibility study for future work aimed at addressing priorities outlined in the U.S. Pacific leatherback Recovery Plan; to identify critical forage habitats, genetic stock structure, migratory corridors and potential fishery impacts on this species in the Pacific.

Modification Request Received

FWS requests a modification to Permit 1051. Permit 1051 authorizes the direct take of shortnose sturgeon by the permit holder, to be conducted over a five-year period. Thirty (30) adult and subadult shortnose sturgeon may be captured annually from the Chesapeake Bay and thirty (30) adult and subadult shortnose sturgeon may be captured annually from the Delaware River/Bay estuary by gillnet and may be examined, measured, weighed, photographed, tissue sampled, and PIT and T-Bar tagged. Ten (10) shortnose sturgeon may be fitted with sonic tags. The fish shall be released at the location of capture immediately following completion of the above procedures. FWS requests an increase in the authorized annual take for the purpose of concentrating tagging and sample collection efforts to the Delaware River. The applicant proposes to increase sonic tags from 10 to 25, an increase of 15 tags and increase sample collection from 30 to 60 fish. The modification is requested for the duration of the permit, which expires May 31, 2002.

Permit Issued

Notice was published on June 3, 1999 (64 FR 29839), that EPA had applied for a scientific research permit. Permit 1219 was issued on September 29, 1999, authorizing takes of shortnose sturgeon for scientific research in Gulf Breeze, Florida. The purpose of the research is to obtain information on the tolerances of port-larval and early-juvenile shortnose sturgeon to low dissolved oxygen (D.O.), particularly in relation to temperature and salinity. Permit 1219 expires September 30, 2000.

Dated: October 13, 1999. Wanda L. Cain, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 99-27583Filed10-21-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F