Endangered Species; Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 111298B]

Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of scientific research permits (1174, 1176, 1178) and

a modification to a scientific research permit (1053)

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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 issued permits to:

Mr. Harold Brundage III, of Environmental Research and Consulting,

Inc., Chadds Ford, PA (ECRI) (1174), Mr. W. Coleman Long, of US Army

Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, DE (COE) (1176), and Michael P.

Sissenwine, Ph.D., Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA (NEFSC) (1178); and NMFS has issued a

modification to a scientific research permit to Molly Lutcavage, Ph.D.,

New England Aquarium, Boston, MA (NEA) (1053).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the

applications must be received on or before December 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for

review in the following offices, by appointment:

For permits 1053, 1174, and 1178: Protected Resources Division, F/

NER3, One Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930 (978-281-9328).

For permits 1176: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species

Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301-

713-1401).

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 permits 1174 and 1176: Terri

Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401);

[[Page 64065]]

For permits 1053 and 1178: 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 turtle

(Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's

ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys

coriacea), Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), and Shortnose sturgeon

(Acipenser brevirostrum).

Permits and Modifications Issued

Notice was published on September 1, 1998 (63 FR 46416), that NEA

had filed an application for a modification to permit 1053.

Modification 1 was issued on November 19, 1998, and authorizes NEA to

conduct direct in-water capture of 8 leatherback turtles, which will be

satellite tagged, PIT tagged, blood sampled, weighed, measured, and

photographed. The turtles will be captured using a breakaway hoop net,

a method that has been used successfully to capture porpoise,

pinnipeds, and small cetaceans. Modification 1 also authorizes a 2-year

extension to permit 1053. Modification 1 is valid for the duration of

the permit, which expires on December 31, 2000.

Notice was published on August 3, 1998 (63 FR 41229), that an

application had been filed by ECRI. Permit 1174 was issued on October

22, 1998, and authorizes ECRI to sample for and collect shortnose

sturgeon in the Delaware River and Estuary system and in the lower

Susquehanna River/Chesapeake Bay Complex. The objectives of the study

are to collect data on current distribution, abundance, length

structure and movements of shortnose sturgeon in the Delaware River

Estuary and in the low Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay. Emphasis

will be placed on calculating reliable population estimates,

determining aggregation areas, and obtaining information on juvenile

shortnose sturgeon. Information on population size and length

distribution for the Delaware River population will be compared with

that during the 1980s. Permit 1174 expires on August 31, 2003.

Notice was published on August 31, 1998 (63 FR 46218), that an

application had been filed by COE. Permit 1176 was issued on November

9, 1998, and authorizes COE to use hatchery bred shortnose sturgeon to

test the potential impacts of blasting to deepen Wilmington harbor in

North Carolina. COE will place hatchery raised sturgeon in wire cages

below the surface and subject them to a series of tests blasts to

determine the effect that the harbor deepening will have on wild

sturgeon in the harbor. As required by a September 13, 1996, biological

opinion, additional protective measures will be taken during the test

blasting to prevent wild sturgeon from being affected. These measures

include relocation of any wild sturgeon found to be in the area prior

to the blasts and air bubble curtains. Due to contract awards schedule,

the test blast schedule would likely begin in November, 1998 and may

continue through January, 1999. Permit 1176 expires on December 31,

1999.

Notice was published on September 15, 1998 (63 FR 49335), that an

application had been filed by NEFSC. Permit 1178 was issued on October

29, 1998, and authorizes NEFSC to take listed sea turtles taken

incidental to fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. The work will

be conducted by scientific observers aboard such vessels. The following

species and take numbers have been authorized: 300 loggerhead, 85

leatherback, 10 Kemp's ridley, 10 hawksbill, and 10 green turtles.

NEFSC is authorized to measure, photograph, flipper tag, scan for PIT

tags, resuscitate (if necessary) and release turtles taken by foreign

and domestic commercial fishing vessels operating in state waters and

the Exclusive Economic Zone. Further, NEFSC is authorized to bring to

shore, when feasible, dead sea turtles for necropsy. Necropsy will only

be performed by personnel currently permitted to conduct such research.

This research supports the NMFS mission of assessing the impacts of

commercial fisheries on marine resources of interest to the United

States. Permit 1178 expires on December 31, 2003.

Dated: November 12, 1998.

Margaret Lorenz,

Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98-30841 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am]

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