[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 27230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7149]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042406D]


Endangered Species; File Nos. 1574 and 1575

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has received applications from the following entities for 
permits for scientific research on shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser 
brevirostrum):
    Dr. Frank A. Chapman, Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences, 
University of Florida, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, Florida 32653 
(File No. 1574); and
    Earth Tech Northeast, Inc. (Joseph Falbo, Principal Investigator), 
One World Financial Center, 200 Liberty Street, 25th Floor, New York, 
New York 10281 (File No. 1575).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before June 9, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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)427-2521;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9328; fax (978)281-9394; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
    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)427-2521, 
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 comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 1574 or File No. 1575.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelsey Abbott or Shane Guan, (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).
    File No. 1574: Dr. Frank A. Chapman requests a 5-year permit to 
authorize the continued maintenance and scientific research of domestic 
stocks of shortnose sturgeon presently held at the University of 
Florida. The research would use captive shortnose sturgeon to meet the 
following objectives: (1) identify physical, chemical, and biological 
parameters required to maintain optimal survival and growth of larvae 
and juvenile shortnose sturgeon; (2) describe embryonic development and 
metamorphosis; (3) monitor gonadal development of domestically raised 
shortnose sturgeon; (4) develop chemical assays to identify the sex and 
monitor the sexual development of shortnose sturgeon; and (5) 
understand the physiology of the sperm and egg to develop short and 
long-term storage of sperm as well as optimum fertilization techniques. 
This project would not require any takes from the wild or any release 
of domestic sturgeon into the wild.
    File No. 1575: Earth Tech Northeast, Inc. requests a 5-year permit 
to document the usage of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge piers by 
shortnose sturgeon. The objectives of this research would be to 
document: (1) the use of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge structure as 
significant habitat by fisheries resources; and (2) the relative 
abundance and spatial and temporal patterns of shortnose sturgeon, if 
these fish are present. The applicants propose to use anchored gill 
nets and traps to capture a maximum of 120 juvenile and adult shortnose 
sturgeon for visual examination, measurement, and release. The proposed 
research would occur at six stations alongside and under the existing 
Tappan Zee Bridge and at three reference locations within 700 feet 
north of the existing bridge.

    Dated: May 4, 2006.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-7149 Filed 5-9-06; 8:45 am]
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