[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 56269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24735]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 091603G]


Endangered Species; Permit No. 1174 and Permit No. 1360

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

ACTION: Scientific research permit modification.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that requests for modifications of 
scientific research permits No. 1174 submitted by Harold Brundage, 
Environmental Research and Consulting, Inc, 112 Commons Court, Chadds 
Ford, Pennsylvania 19317, and No. 1360 submitted by Dr. David Secor, 
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for 
Environmental Science, P.O. Box 38, Solomons, Maryland 20619, have been 
granted.

ADDRESSES: The modifications 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 310/713-0376) and
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested modifications have been 
granted under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the provisions of Sec.  
222.306 of the regulations governing the taking, importing, and 
exporting of endangered and threatened fish and wildlife (50 CFR 222-
226).
    Mr. Brundage is authorized to sample for and collect 2,500 
shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) annually in the Delaware 
River and Estuary system and in the lower Susquehanna River/Chesapeake 
Bay Complex. The objectives of the study are to collect data on current 
distribution, abundance, length structure and movements of shortnose 
sturgeon. This modification will extend the total authorized takes 
through August 31, 2004.
    Dr. Secor is authorized to determine the ages of shortnose sturgeon 
caught in the Hudson river by interpreting annulus of pectoral fin 
spines. The method uses 10 captive shortnose sturgeon from seven age 
classes (70 total) from US Fish and Wildlife Service Warm Springs Fish 
Hatchery, Georgia. This modification will extend the total authorized 
takes through November 30, 2004.
    Issuance of these modifications, as required by the ESA was based 
on a finding that such permits: (1) Were applied for in good faith; (2) 
will not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is 
the subject of these permits; and (3) are consistent with the purposes 
and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: September 22, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-24735 Filed 9-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S