Environmental Assessment for Issuance of Two Scientific Research Permits for Sea Turtle Research in Florida.

摘要

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to issue two scientific research permits. The purpose of File No. 14508 (lnwater Research Group, Inc., Principal Investigator: Michael Bresette) is to continue to collect long-term data on species comparison, size frequencies, disease rates, seasonal abundance, genetic origin and feeding ecology of sea turtles using Lake Worth Lagoon in Palm Beach County, Florida. The purpose of File No. 14655 (Principal Investigator: Jane Provancha) is to continue to monitor the abundance and distribution of sea turtles in the waters of Mosquito Lagoon in Volusia and Brevard Counties, Florida. Under NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, NMFS issuance of scientific research permits is generally categorically excluded from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) requirements to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS). However, for these two permits NMFS prepared an EA to facilitate a more thorough assessment of potential impacts on endangered and threatened sea turtles. This EA evaluates the potential impacts to the human environment from issuance of the proposed permits.