[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 59780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29768]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 112001A]


Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of an application for a research permit (1353).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding 
permits for takes of endangered and threatened species for the purposes 
of scientific research and/or enhancement under the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA): NMFS has received an application for a scientific research 
permit from Dr. Steve W. Ross, of NC National Estuarine Research 
Reserve.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on this new 
application must be received at the appropriate address or fax number 
no later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this new application should be sent to 
the appropriate office as indicated below. Comments may also be sent 
via fax to the number indicated for the application. Comments will not 
be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet. The application 
and related documents are available for review in the indicated office, 
by appointment:
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, F/PR1, 1315 East West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone:301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-
0376).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Becker, Silver Spring, MD 
(phone: 301-713-2319, fax: 301-713-0376, e-mail: 
[email protected])

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on 
a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) are applied for in good 
faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species 
which are the subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the 
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Scientific 
research and/or enhancement permits are issued under section 10 
(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. Authority to take listed species is subject to 
conditions set forth in the permits. Permits and modifications are 
issued in accordance with and are subject to the ESA and NMFS 
regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 
222-226).
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on an application listed in 
this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such 
hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the permit 
action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of NMFS.

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following species are covered in this notice:
    Endangered Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Application 1353

    The shortnose sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum, is the only 
federally listed endangered marine fish in North Carolina. In the late 
1800's, NC shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon supported the largest 
sturgeon fishery in the southeastern U.S. Due to habitat loss and 
overfishing, NC sturgeon populations declined until both species were 
considered in danger of extinction in the state. This research will 
sample and track the shortnose sturgeon of the rivers of NC, including 
the Cape Fear river system, the Brunswick River, and the Northeast Cape 
Fear River. The fish will be collected by gillnetting, trawling, and 
electroshocking. They will then be documented for measurements, disease 
and catch per unit effort. The fish will then be tagged with an 
internal ultrasonic transmitter and released. The tagged fish will be 
monitored for the life of the battery of the implants, approximately 7 
months.

    Dated: November 26, 2001.
Ann Terbush,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-29768 Filed 11-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S