[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 15741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5937]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG39


Endangered Species; File No. 1614-01

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 the NOAA Fisheries Northeast 
Region, Protected Resources Division [Responsible Party: Mary 
Colligan], One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, has requested a 
modification to scientific research Permit No. 1614.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 24, 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)427-2520;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9300; fax (978)281-9394; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
    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)427-2520, 
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. 1614-01.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 1614, 
issued on February 28, 2008 (73 FR 11873), 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. 1614 authorizes the permit holder to collect, receive 
and transport 100 dead shortnose sturgeon, or parts thereof, annually. 
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. Researchers are also authorized the receipt and 
transport of up to 50 captive bred, dead shortnose sturgeon annually 
from any U.S. facility authorized to hold captive sturgeon. This permit 
authorizes the conduct of the aforementioned research over a period of 
five years.
    The permit holder requests authorization to increase the number of 
dead captive bred shortnose sturgeon received annually to 350 
individuals throughout the remainder of the permit. This request stems 
from the probable availability of a greater number of dead captive bred 
shortnose sturgeon than was originally anticipated. The applicant would 
like to obtain these sturgeon to help meet the objectives of their 
current research, including reviewing research procedures and 
developing necropsy protocols for shortnose sturgeon.

    Dated: March 19, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-5937 Filed 3-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S