[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58350-58351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24036]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XZ18


Endangered Species; Permit No. 1578-01; and Permit No. 1595-04

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

ACTION:  Notice; receipt of modification requests.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given the following applicants have applied 
in due form for modifications to permits (Permit Nos. 1578 and 1595-03) 
to take shortnose sturgeon for purposes of scientific research:Maine 
Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) (Gail S. Wippelhauser, Principal 
Investigator), 21 State House Station, Augusta, ME, 04333 (Permit No. 
1578); and Michael M. Hastings, University of Maine, 5717 Corbett Hall, 
Orono, ME 04469, (Permit No. 1595-03).

DATES:  Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before October 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES:  The applications 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 
Permit Nos. 1578-01 or 1595-04 from the list of available applications. 
The 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 these 
applications 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 identifiers: 
Permit No. 1578-01 or Permit No.1595-04.

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

[[Page 58351]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit amendments are 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).

Application to Modify Permit No. 1578

    The existing permit authorizes sampling 500 shortnose sturgeon 
adults and sub-adults annually in the main stem of the Kennebec River 
between Augusta, ME and Lockwood Dam. Efforts have focused on the 
location of spawning and foraging habitat, migratory pathways, and 
effects of river flow on migration and habitat use. The applicant now 
proposes to document the use of other river systems by sturgeon in the 
Gulf of Maine (GOM) proposing an increase in numbers of shortnose 
sturgeon captured from 500 to 600, while also expanding the action area 
to include: (1) the Kennebec River mouth to Lockwood Dam; (2) the 
Androscoggin River mouth to Brunswick Dam; (3) the Sheepscot River 
mouth to Reversing Falls; (4) the Sasanoa River, the Back River, and 
Sagadahoc Bay; (5) Tottman Cove; and (6) the lower Saco River. New 
research methods proposed include: use of Floy tags for external 
identification; endoscopic examination with borescopes to verify sex; 
blood sampling; gastric lavage for diet analysis; scute sampling for 
elemental analysis; and electro-narcosis for anesthetization.

Application to Modify Permit No. 1595-03

    The objectives of the original research would remain the same for 
the proposed modification, assessing the distribution, movements, 
abundance and spawning of shortnose sturgeon in the Penobscot River 
system. However, the Permit Holder requests an increased number of 
shortnose sturgeon captured with gill and trammel nets from 200 to 300. 
Other research activities requested include: (1) lowering the minimum 
water temperature to 0[deg]C to target sturgeon; (2) using Floy tags; 
(3) using electro-narcosis for anesthetization; (4) using scute 
sampling for elemental analysis; (5) using gastric lavage for diet 
analysis; and (6) using fall (September December) to sample early life 
stages.

    Dated: Septemeber 21, 2010.
Jolie Harrison,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-24036 Filed 9-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S