[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53140-53141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22919]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082203C]


Endangered Species; File No. 1420, File No. 1444, and File No. 
1447

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding 
permits for takes of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirosturm) for 
scientific research:
    NMFS has received permit applications from Michael F. Mangold, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Maryland Fisheries Resource Office, 177 
Admiral Cochrane Drive, Annapolis, Maryland 21401(File No. 1444); and 
the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (Dr. Mark Collins, 
Principal Investigator), 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South 
Carolina 29412 (File No. 1447). NMFS has received a request to modify a 
permit application from Douglas Peterson, Ph.D, Warnell School of 
Forest Resources (Fisheries Division), University of Georgia, Athens, 
Georgia 30602 (File No. 1420).

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
October 9, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    All documents: 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.
    For File No. 1444: Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371; and
    For File No. 1420 and File No. 1447: Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 
Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone 
(727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Jefferies or Sarah Wilkin, 
(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).

Applications for permits

    Mr. Mangold (File No. 1444) seeks authorization to sample and track 
shortnose sturgeon for two projects: one project would be conducted in 
the Potomac River and the second would be conducted in the Delaware 
River, the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. For the Potomac River 
project, up to 50 fish would be taken annually via gill, pound, fyke 
and trammel netting, measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue samples will 
be taken, and the fish subsequently released. A subset of 20 fish 
annually would also be T-bar and CART tagged and have a temperature/
depth datalogger attached. Additionally, Mr. Mangold would also use D-
traps to collect up to 2500 shortnose sturgeon eggs annually. This 
research would be conducted from 2004-2006. For the second project, Mr. 
Mangold proposes to capture via gill and trammel net, measure, weigh, 
tag with PIT and T-bar tags, take a tissue and blood sample of, biopsy 
gonads of and release 50 fish annually. A subset of 10 fish annually 
would also have sonic transmitters attached before release and 
subsequently tracked. This project would be conducted from 2004-2009. A 
total of 5 incidental mortalities between both projects is requested.
    The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (File No. 1447) 
seeks authorization to sample and track shortnose sturgeon, in South 
Carolina coastal waters. Annually, up to 100 fish would be taken via 
gill nets and trawls, measured, weighed, PIT tagged, and the fish 
subsequently released. A subset of

[[Page 53141]]

50 fish annually would also have Dart tags attached, be outfitted with 
a radio/sonic transmitter and tracked. Additionally, the researchers 
would also use deployed buffer pads that act as egg mats to collect up 
to 100 shortnose sturgeon eggs annually. This research would be 
conducted from 2004-2009. A total of 2 incidental mortalities is 
requested.

Application to modify existing application

    A notice of receipt of an application from Dr. Douglas Peterson 
(File No. 1420) to take shortnose sturgeon, for scientific research was 
published on March 11, 2003 (68 FR 11533). Dr. Peterson sought 
authorization to sample and track shortnose sturgeon in the Altamaha 
River in Georgia for five years. Annually, up to 200 fish were to be 
taken via gill and trammel netting, measured, weighed, PIT and Carlin 
tagged, tissue and pectoral fin ray samples taken, and the fish 
subsequently released. Additionally, up to 10 of the total fish sampled 
annually were to also receive an internal radio-sonic transmitter. Dr. 
Peterson also proposed to deploy artificial substrate samplers from 
February to mid-March to collect up to 100 shortnose sturgeon eggs 
annually. Dr. Peterson now proposes to increase the number of fish 
receiving an internal radio-sonic transmitter from 10 individuals to 
30.
    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. Please note that 
comments will not be accepted by e-mail or by other electronic media.

    Dated: September 2, 2003.
Jill Lewandowski,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-22919 Filed 9-8-03; 8:45 am]
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