[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 245 (Thursday, December 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 76638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21861]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121506B]


Endangered Species; File No. 1420-01

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Doug Peterson (Permit Holder 
and Principal Investigator), Warnell School of Forest Resources 
(Fisheries Division), University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 (File No. 
1420-01) has been issued a modified permit to conduct scientific 
research on shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum).

ADDRESSES: The permit 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)713-0376; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13\th\ Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead or Brandy Hutnak, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 10, 2005, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (70 FR 68398) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take shortnose sturgeon had been submitted by Dr. 
Doug Peterson. The requested permit has been issued 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 parts 222-226).
    Dr. Peterson is authorized to conduct a study of shortnose sturgeon 
in the Altamaha River, Georgia, to collect information on the status of 
the population of shortnose sturgeon in the Altamaha River and Estuary. 
The goals and methods employed in the modification will be consistent 
with the original permit and provide critical data on stock status, 
life history, and survival rates as well as to identify specific 
habitat requirements of the various life stages of shortnose sturgeon 
in the Altamaha River.
    In his initial application, Dr. Peterson's request for an annual 
take of 200 adults and juvenile shortnose sturgeon was based on 
previous studies that suggested the Altamaha River population contained 
less than 1,000 total individuals. After 2 years of study, Dr. Peterson 
made two revised estimates supporting 5,000 and 6,320 individuals 
respectively in the Altamaha River. Therefore, to obtain a more 
meaningful population estimate with a reasonable confidence interval, 
Dr. Peterson is authorized to increase the number of shortnose to be 
marked and released annually to 1,000, an increase of 800 sturgeon. 
Additionally, 12 adult shortnose sturgeon annually (from the 1000 per 
year above) are permitted in the take for sex ratio determination by 
laparoscopic methods and for performing blood work. The remaining adult 
and juvenile fish (up to 30 total) scheduled to receive an internal 
radio-sonic tracking transmitter, are also authorized to be examined 
laparoscopically for sex ratio verification. Lastly, the annual 
incidental lethal take of adult or juvenile sturgeon is increased from 
0 to 2 animals.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the 
subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: December 18, 2006.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-21861 Filed 12-21-06; 8:45 am]
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