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Endangered Species

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[Federal Register: January 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 9)]
[Notices]
[Page 2223]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ja08-35]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE85

Endangered Species

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

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SUMMARY:  NMFS has completed a draft Programmatic Environmental
Assessment (PEA) on the Issuance of Endangered Species Act Permits for
Scientific Research on Endangered and Threatened Sea Turtles in the
North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico.

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before February 13, 2008.

ADDRESSES:  The PEA is available for review upon written request or by
appointment in the following office:
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/review.htm.
    Written comments should be mailed to the Chief, Permits,
Conservation and Education Division, F/PR1, at the above address.
    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 e-mail comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier:
Sea Turtle Programmatic EA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Patrick Opay, Amy Hapeman, or Kate
Swails, (301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS has authority, delegated from the
Secretary of Commerce, to issue permits for research and enhancement
activities under Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act
(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Permits to take endangered or threatened
non-marine mammal species are governed by the ESA and NMFS implementing
regulations at 50 CFR 222.301-309. Where coordination with the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service is required regarding sea turtles,
permits are subject to NMFS regulatory criteria at 50 CFR 222.309.
    NMFS is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
and 40 CFR 1508.27 to consider the significance of the effects of
authorizing research activities on listed species of sea turtles
(proposed action). The action being considered in this PEA was analyzed
as a whole, by effects on affected interests, and by short- and long-
term effects. Additionally, the severity of the impacts was analyzed.
    NMFS is proposing to more efficently complete its review and
issuance process for ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific research
permits and permit modifications on sea turtle species in the North
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. To date, NMFS
analyzes each proposed permit action through separate EAs, one for each
permit application. The preferred alternative would allow NMFS to more
efficently analyze the potential collective environmental impact of
research activities over the next five years.

    Dated: January 8, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-495 Filed 1-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

 
 

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