[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 47351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18148]



[[Page 47351]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 062702D]


Endangered Species; File No. 1189

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that James P. Kirk, Engineer Research 
and Development Center, Waterways Experiment Station, EE-A, 3909 Halls 
Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199, has requested a modification to 
scientific research Permit No. 1189.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
August 19, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request and related documents are available 
for review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    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
    Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, NMFS, 
Southeast Region, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 
33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted 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 amendment 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. Please 
note that comments will not be accepted by e-mail or other electronic 
media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Becker or Ruth Johnson, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 1189 
is requested under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (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).
    Permit No. 1189, issued April 22, 1999, (64 FR 23281) authorizes 
the permit holder to capture 300 shortnose sturgeon by gill net or trot 
line then measure, tag weigh and release them. Twenty of these may be 
surgically implanted with radio/sonic tags and tracked. Mortalities are 
not to exceed one shortnose sturgeon per year. This permit is due to 
expire on December 31, 2002.
    The permit holder previously requested the addition of trawling to 
the capture methods and now requests authorization to extend the permit 
for two more years with the same level of take for each year. This will 
give the researcher time to fully take advantage of the use of trawling 
to capture younger shortnose sturgeon.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: July 12, 2002.
Eugene T. Nitta,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-18148 Filed 7-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S