[Federal Register: February 21, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 35)]
[Notices]
[Page 9525-9526]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21fe08-42]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF59
Endangered Species; File No. 10115
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Douglas Peterson, University
of Georgia, Warnell School of Forest Resources, Athens, GA 30602, has
applied in due form for a permit to take shortnose
[[Page 9526]]
sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before March 24, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
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)713-0376; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL
33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)713-0376,
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:
File No. 10115.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandy Belmas or Malcolm Mohead,
(301)713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the
authority of 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).
Dr. Douglas Peterson is seeking a five-year scientific research
permit to conduct a presence/absence study of shortnose sturgeon in the
St. Marys and Satilla Rivers, Georgia. The purpose of the proposed
research is to assess the current status of shortnose sturgeon in these
rivers, as well as evaluate the current habitat availability in each
river. If shortnose sturgeon are found, another objective of the
proposed research would be to quantify the genetic discreteness and
effective population size of the extant stock. The applicant is
requesting to capture (by anchored gill or trammel nets), measure,
weigh, PIT tag, fin clip, and fin ray sample 73 shortnose sturgeon
annually from each river. Blood samples would be collected from another
12 fish from each river annually, and internal radio tags would be
implanted in a total of 10 fish from each river over the life of the
permit.
Those fish that have blood collected and internal tags implanted
would also be anesthetized and have their sex determined using
laparoscopic procedures. Up to 20 eggs and larvae from each river would
be collected by egg mats annually. A total of one unintentional
mortality, for both rivers combined, is being requested each year.
Dated: February 14, 2008.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-3258 Filed 2-20-08; 8:45 am]
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