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= Scientific Take Permit =

A scientific take permit is a permit that allows for the "taking" of species categorized as endangered or threatened for scientific research purposes relating to the rehabilitation of said species. In Section 3(19) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, "taking" refers to the capture, harassment, and/or killing or injuring of a member of any species. There are subgroups of permits that fall under the category of scientific take permit. The type of permit required is based on what species is being collected, and the purpose for which they are being collected. Each class of organisms typically have their own set of permits that are then divided based on the intent of the research being conducted. Some examples of scientific take include surveying protected regions to determine the condition of an endangered population, harvesting organisms to use in a breeding program, collecting biological samples from a species to determine their genetic composition, transferring injured or sick animals to a hospital for treatment, etc.

Applications for permits can be found and submitted to state fish and wildlife departments, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), which is an agency within the United States Department of Commerce. According to Section 10(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, in order to obtain a permit for purposes that do not directly relate to the conservation or management of an endangered species, the applicant must submit a conservation plan that discusses: the probable impact from said taking, what the applicant will do to reduce their impacts as well as where the funding to do so will come from, alternative methods of collecting the necessary data and why those methods will not work for the situation, and any other steps the Secretary of the Interior may deem necessary.

Failing to comply with the terms of a permit will result in the revoking of permission to continue any further taking. The Secretary can call for a civil penalty of up to $25,000 for each violation that was knowingly committed by the permit holder. Major violations can also result in up to $50,000 in penalties as well as up to one year in prison .If a permit holder is unsuccessful in paying the penalties by the set date, the Secretary can have the case be taken to court where a hearing will be held to determine if the Secretary's decisions should be upheld. These cases will be held under the jurisdiction of the United States district courts, where the court will have to decide if the permit holder was acting in "good faith," such as they were protecting themselves or others from potential harm from the endangered species involved.

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Endangered Species Act of 1973