[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 132 (Monday, July 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41788-41789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15741]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 070604A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1489

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 Dr. James P. Kirk, U.S. Army, 
Engineer Research and Development Center, 3903 Halls Ferry Road, 
Vicksburg, MS 39180, has applied in due form for a permit to take 
shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific 
research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before August 11, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The application 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
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 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 
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.
    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

[[Page 41789]]

comment the following document identifier: File No. 1489.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Jefferies or Carrie Hubard, 
(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).
    Most populations of shortnose sturgeon in southern rivers are 
believed to be depressed. The Army's Fort Stewart has been supporting 
shortnose sturgeon monitoring studies in the Ogeechee River, Georgia, 
for almost a decade and have requested to continue that work for the 
next five years. The purpose of the proposed study is to continue to 
meet the objectives created for Fort Stewart in the Endangered Species 
Management. To address these objectives, the researchers are requesting 
authorization to capture 300 adult shortnose sturgeon via gillnets, 
trammel nets, trawls and trot lines. Adult sturgeon would be measured, 
weighed, handled, Floy or PIT tagged, tissue sampled and released. In 
addition, they are requesting to externally radio tag and track a 
subset of 20 fish and externally or internally sonic/radio tag and 
track a subset of 40 fish over the life of the permit. Researchers also 
request authorization to collect 40 eggs via buffer pads, annually. An 
annual accidental mortality of 2 fish annually is also requested.

    Dated: July 6, 2004.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-15741 Filed 7-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S