[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 43 (Thursday, March 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 10213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4872]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022604A]


Endangered Species; Files No. 1472 and No. 1473

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk 
(Ellen Riker, principle investigator), 10 North Water Street, South 
Norwalk, Connecticut 06854 and the Virginia Living Museum (Lory Scott, 
principle investigator), 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, 
Virginia 23601, have both applied in due form for a permit to take 
shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of enhancement 
through educational display.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: 
    The applications 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
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371.
    Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing email comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 1472 and File No. 1473.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits 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 
222-226).
    The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk and the Virginia Living Museum 
both propose to receive and use 50 individual, captive-bred, non-
releaseable shortnose sturgeon for educational display exhibits. These 
proposed projects of displaying endangered cultured shortnose sturgeon 
responds directly to a recommendation of the NMFS recovery outline for 
this species. In addition, the facilities would formulate public 
education programs and exhibits to increase awareness of the shortnose 
sturgeon and its status. These proposed projects would educate the 
public on shortnose sturgeon life history and the reasons for its 
declining numbers.
    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.

    Dated: February 27, 2004.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-4872 Filed 3-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S