[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 67720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26666]
[[Page 67720]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XR072]
Endangered Species; File Nos. 22671-01, 23096, and 23200
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for permits and a permit
modification.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that three applicants have applied in
due form for a permit to take Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and
shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum) sturgeon for purposes of scientific
research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before January 10, 2020.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the
``Features'' box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting the
applicable File No. from the list of available applications.
These documents are also available upon written request or by
appointment in the Permits and Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver
Spring, MD 20910; phone: (301) 427-8401; fax: (301) 713-0376.
Written comments on these applications should be submitted to the
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the
subject line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons
why a hearing on the application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead (for File Nos. 22671-01
and 23096) or Erin Markin (for File No. 23200), (301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits and permit modification
are 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 parts 222-226).
File No. 22671-01: Permit No. 22671 was issued on March 12, 2019
(83 FR 61375), authorizing the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Conte
Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, 1 Migratory Way, Turners Falls, MA
01376 (Responsible Party: Adria Elskus), to take shortnose sturgeon in
the Connecticut River. Researchers are currently permitted to capture
adult, sub-adult and juvenile shortnose sturgeon using gill nets or
trawls (i.e., trawling is conducted between Turner Falls Dam and
Holyoke Dam), measure, weigh, tag, tissue sample, determine gender via
boroscopy, photograph, and prophylactically treat prior to release. A
subset of sturgeon may be anesthetized and implanted with acoustic tags
(internal or external) for tracking. Lethal sampling of early life
stages (eggs and larvae) may occur using D-nets. The Permit Holder is
also authorized to conduct scientific research and enhancement
activities on captive, non-releasable shortnose sturgeon.
The permit holder requests additional authorization for blood
sampling to evaluate stress levels experienced by the upstream-migrant
shortnose sturgeon in upstream passage through the Holyoke fish
elevator. Blood samples from treatment animals would be collected at
the height of the fish passage elevator and also from control animals
below the dam prior to entering the lift. Additionally, the permit
holder requests trawling gear to be authorized for capturing shortnose
sturgeon in the Connecticut River between Turner Falls Dam (MA) and
Bellows Falls Dam (VT). The permit would expire on March 31, 2029.
File No. 23096: The University of Georgia, Warnell School of
Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA 30602
(Responsible Party: Dale Greene) requests a permit to conduct
scientific research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to determine the
presence, status, health, population dynamics, and movements of
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the coastal river basins and
estuaries of Georgia and Northeast Florida (Savannah, Ogeechee,
Altamaha, Satilla, and St. Marys (GA) and St. Johns/Nassau (FL)).
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon would be captured using gill nets and/
or trammel nets. Juvenile, sub-adult, and adult sturgeon would be PIT
tagged, tissue sampled (fin clip), measured, weighed, and photographed.
A subset of individual animals may be anesthetized, internally or
externally acoustically tagged, biologically sampled (fin ray, blood,
gonads), and undergo endoscopy to determine sex. Lethal sampling of
sturgeon eggs and larvae using artificial substrates would occur to
verify spawning incidence. Tissue samples would be exported to Canada
for DNA virus analysis. Incidental mortality of up to one adult/sub-
adult and one juvenile Atlantic sturgeon may occur annually in the
Savannah, Ogeechee, Altamaha, and Satilla Rivers; and up to one adult/
sub-adult and one juvenile shortnose sturgeon may occur annually in the
Savannah, Ogeechee, and Altamaha Rivers. The permit would be valid for
up to 10 years from the date of issuance.
File No. 23200: The University of North Carolina, Wilmington, 601
South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403 (Responsible Party: Frederick
Scharf), requests a permit to conduct scientific research on adult,
sub-adult, and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to determine
their abundance, distribution, habitat use, and migration dynamics in
the coastal rivers and estuaries of North Carolina basins (Cape Fear,
Neuse, Tar/Pamlico, Roanoke/Chowan). Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon
would be captured using gill nets, trammel nets, or trawls, measured,
weighed, tagged (PIT, Floy), biologically sampled (tissue), and
photographed/videoed. A subset of Atlantic sturgeon would be
anesthetized and receive an internal acoustic tag. The permit would be
valid for up to 5 years from the date of issuance.
Dated: December 6, 2019.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-26666 Filed 12-10-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P