[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11873-11874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4260]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF98


Endangered Species; File No. 1614

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

ACTION:  Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that the NOAA Fisheries Northeast 
Region, Protected Resources Division [Responsible Party: Mary 
Colligan], One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, has been issued a 
permit to take dead shortnose sturgeon for purposes of scientific 
research.

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
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978) 281-9300; fax (978) 281-9394.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 26, 2007, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (72

[[Page 11874]]

FR 54643) that a request for a scientific research permit to take dead 
shortnose sturgeon had been submitted by the above-named organization. 
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).
    This research permit authorizes the collection, receipt and 
transport of 100 dead shortnose sturgeon, or parts thereof, annually. 
Researchers would also be authorized the receipt and transport of 50 
captive bred, dead shortnose sturgeon annually from any U.S. facility 
authorized to hold captive sturgeon. In the case of an unusual 
mortality event, takes may be increased from 100 up to 1,000 animals 
with written approval from the Director, Office of Protected Resources. 
This permit does not authorize the harassment or take of any protected 
species (including live shortnose sturgeon). This permit authorizes the 
conduct of the aforementioned research over a period of five years.
    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 such endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: February 28, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-4260 Filed 3-4-08; 8:45 am]
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