[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 222 (Thursday, November 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 59961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27829]



[[Page 59961]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XS97


Endangered Species; File No. 14604

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 Harold Brundage, Environmental 
Research and Consulting, Inc, 126 Bancroft Road, Kennett Square, PA 
19348, 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 December 21, 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, and then selecting File 
No. 14604 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)713-0376; and Northeast Region, NMFS, 
Protected Resources Division, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA, 
01930; phone (978)281-9328; fax (978)281-9394. 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)713-0376, 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. 14604.

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 
222-226).
    The applicant is seeking a five-year scientific research permit to 
characterize habitat use, relative abundance, reproduction, juvenile 
recruitment, temporal and spatial distributions, and reproductive 
health of the shortnose sturgeon population in the Delaware River and 
Estuary. The proposed permit requests annual authorization for non-
lethal sampling methods on up to 1,000 adult and juvenile shortnose 
sturgeon. Research activities would include: capturing via gill net, 
trammel net, and trawl net; measuring and weighing; tagging with PIT 
and Floy T-bar tags; and sampling tissue for genetic analysis. A subset 
of 30 adults and 30 juveniles would be tagged with acoustic 
transmitters. Another subset of 24 adults would be examined internally 
using laparoscopic techniques and each would also have gonad biopsy and 
blood samples taken for analyses. Additionally, lethal takes of up to 
500 eggs and larvae each year would be collected during seasonal 
spawning activity by artificial substrate, D-frame ichthyoplankton net, 
and/or epibenthic sled. Finally, one unintentional mortality or serious 
injury is requested annually.

    Dated: November 13, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-27829 Filed 11-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S