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	<summaries>

	<summary><p type="2">SUMMARY:</p>
<p type="1">Notice is hereby given that <applicant>Jeffrey Schmid</applicant>, Ph.D, Conservancy of <applicant_location woeId="12772649" type="Zip" name="34102, Naples, FL, US">Southwest Florida, Naples, FL 34102</applicant_location>, has requested a modification to scientific research Permit No. 13544 and <applicant>Jeanette Wyneken</applicant>, <applicant_institution woeId="23550137" type="POI" name="Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, US">Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431</applicant_institution>, has applied in due form to conduct scientific research (File No. 14586).</p>
</summary></summaries>
	<supplementary_information>

	<supplInfo><p type="2">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</p>
<p type="1">The modification to Permit No. 13544, issued on April 17, 2009 (74 FR 18354) is requested under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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).Permit No. 13544 authorizes the permit holder to characterize the aggregations of sea turtles in the nearshore waters of Lee County in southwest Florida. The permit holder may annually capture 130 Kemp's ridley ( <species_scientific name="Lepidochelys kempii">Lepidochelys kempii</species_scientific> ), 50 loggerhead ( <species_scientific name="Caretta caretta">Caretta caretta</species_scientific> ), 20 green ( <species_scientific name="Chelonia mydas">Chelonia mydas</species_scientific> ), and five hawksbill ( <species_scientific name="Eretmochelys imbricata">Eretmochelys imbricata</species_scientific> ) turtles. Turtles are collected using a large-mesh, run-around strike net. Turtles are measured, weighed, and tagged with Inconel and passive integrated transponder tags. Tissue samples are collected for genetic and stable isotope analyses. A subset of Kemp's ridleys are held for 24-48 hours for fecal sample collection. Another subset of Kemp's ridleys receive electronic transmitters to investigate their movements, home range, and habitat associations. The permit expires on April 30, 2014.</p>
<p type="1">The permit holder requests authorization to satellite tag a subset of Kemp's ridley and loggerhead turtles to determine their seasonal distribution and possible migrations in the waters of the southeastern Gulf.</p>
<p type="1">File No. 14586 is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et. seq. ), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), 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).</p>
<p type="1">File No. 14586 would authorize researchers to conduct aerial and vessel surveys in the Straits of Florida off Florida's southeast coast. The goal of this project would be to collect baseline data regarding the abundance and distribution of marine mammals and sea turtles within the proposed study site. Since this study site is being considered as a testing site for ocean energy technology, researchers would assess the presence of animals before, during, and after the testing.</p>
<p type="1">Abundance surveys could result in the harassment of sea turtles [leatherback ( <species_scientific name="Dermochelys coriacea">Dermochelys coriacea</species_scientific> ), loggerhead, green, hawksbill, and Kemp's ridley], as well as numerous cetacean species including fin whales ( <species_scientific name="Balaenoptera physalus">Balaenoptera physalus</species_scientific> ), sperm whales ( <species_scientific name="Physeter macrocephalus">Physeter macrocephalus</species_scientific> ), humpback whales ( <species_scientific name="Megaptera novaengliae">Megaptera novaengliae</species_scientific> ), and the North Atlantic right whale ( <species_scientific name="Eubalaena glacialis">Eubalaena glacialis</species_scientific> ). The permit would be valid for five years from the date of issuance.</p>
</supplInfo></supplementary_information>
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