[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30054-30055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14879]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XP84


Endangered Species; File No. 14394

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 Douglas Peterson, PhD, University 
of Georgia, Warnell School of Forest Resources, Athens, GA 30602, has 
applied in due form for a permit to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser 
brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before July 24, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/index.cfm, and then 
selecting File No. 14394 from the list of available applications. These 
documents are also available for review upon written request or by 
appointment. The application 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
    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

[[Page 30055]]

[email protected]. Include in the subject line of the e-mail 
comment the following document identifier: File No. 14394.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead or Kate Swails, (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 
parts 222-226).
    Dr. Douglas Peterson is seeking a five-year scientific research 
permit to conduct a study in the Altamaha River, Georgia, assessing the 
distribution, abundance and movements of adult and sub-adult of 
shortnose sturgeon. The permit would authorize non-lethal sampling 
methods on up to 500 shortnose sturgeon annually, but not to exceed 
1,500 over the life of the permit. Research activities would include 
gill netting, measuring (length, weight, photos), genetic/fin-ray 
tissue sampling, PIT and sonic tagging, anesthesia, laparoscopy, and 
gastric lavage. To document spawning in the river, up to 20 eggs or 
larvae would be lethally collected with artificial substrates annually. 
Additionally, one incidence of unintentional mortality or serious 
injury is proposed over the life of the permit.

    Dated: June 18, 2009
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-14879 Filed 6-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S