[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 7261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2277]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF47


Endangered Species; File No. 1595

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for modification

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Mr. Michael M. Hastings, 
University of Maine, 5717 Corbett Hall, Orono, Maine 04469, has 
requested a modification to scientific research Permit No. 1595-01.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before March 10, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The modification request 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; and
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request 
should be submitted 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 modification 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. 1595.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 1595-
01, issued on May 1, 2007 (72 FR 19469) is requested under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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).
    Permit No. 1595-01 authorizes the permit holder to: capture, 
anesthetize, measure, weigh, sex (borescope), Carlin and PIT tag, 
recover and release up to 70 sub-adult and adult shortnose sturgeon 
annually. Up to 30 sub-adult and adult shortnose sturgeon, annually, 
would be fitted (or implanted) with an external (or internal) 
transmitter, in addition to the previously mentioned procedures. This 
permit also authorizes the annual lethal take of up to 50 shortnose 
sturgeon eggs, up to 30 of which may be transported to the lab for 
genetic sampling. Up to 2 incidental mortalities of shortnose sturgeon 
each year is also currently authorized.
    The permit holder is now requesting authorization to: (1) increase 
the total annual take of shortnose sturgeon from 100 fish to 200 fish; 
(2) expand netting efforts to include currently restricted areas (i.e., 
within 0.5 miles of the confluence of the Penobscot River with Cove 
Brook, and the Kenduskeag River); (3) add D-net sampling as a method of 
sturgeon egg collection; (4) add non-lethal blood sampling as a 
procedure (which would be conducted on up to 30 fish of which the 
capture and handling is already authorized); and (5) add and remove 
personnel authorized to conduct research activities. The purpose of the 
proposed modification is to better assess the distribution, movements, 
abundance and spawning of shortnose sturgeon in the Penobscot River, 
Maine. This modification would be valid through the expiration date of 
the original permit, March 31, 2012.

    Dated: February 1, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2277 Filed 2-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S