[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 54643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18974]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC85


Endangered Species; File No. 1614

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the NOAA Fisheries Northeast 
Region, Protected Resources Division, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, 
MA 01930, has applied in due form for a permit to take dead shortnose 
sturgeon for purposes of scientific research and enhancement.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before October 26, 2007.

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)427-2521;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; 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 e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 1614.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandy Hutnak or Jennifer Skidmore, 
(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).
    The applicant proposes to collect, necropsy, sample, and salvage 
dead shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) found beached, sunken, 
floating etc., or taken legally during other authorized activities, for 
the purposes of education and scientific research. The purpose of the 
proposed research is to use the collected sturgeon to support past, 
ongoing, and anticipated research including, but not limited to, 
morphology, genetics, histopathology, contaminants, age and growth, 
food habits, and human impact/anthropogenic mortality. Additionally, 
this work would help promote the conservation of shortnose sturgeon by 
enabling educators to receive and maintain parts from deceased 
sturgeon. The number of fish collected annually would vary, but likely 
would not exceed 100 per year, unless there was a catastrophic event 
(e.g. oil spill, fish kill). Carcasses would be collected 
opportunistically throughout their range (east coast and rivers of the 
United States in the northeast and southeast regions) for a period of 
five years.

    Dated: September 19, 2007.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-18974 Filed 9-25-07; 8:45 am]
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