[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80890-80891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33166]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA898


Endangered Species; File Nos. 13599 and 1614

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for permit modifications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following applicants have 
applied in due form for modifications to their scientific research 
permits: the National Ocean Service Marine Forensic Lab (NOS Lab) 
[Responsible Party: Julie Carter], 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, 
SC 29412 (Permit No. 13599-01), and the NOAA Fisheries Northeast 
Region, Protected Resources Division [Responsible Party: Mary 
Colligan], 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 (Permit No. 1614-
01).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before January 26, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Documents associated with this amendment request are 
available upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):

Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376;
Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298; 
phone (978) 281-9300; fax (978) 281-9394; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, 
Florida 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.

    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the 
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

[[Page 80891]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore or Colette Cairns, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modifications to Permit No. 
13599-01 and 1614-01 are requested under the authority of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), 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. 13599-01, issued on September 20, 2010 (73 FR 78724), 
authorizes the permit holder to receive, import, export, transfer, 
archive, and conduct analyses of marine mammal and endangered species 
parts. Species include all cetaceans, pinnipeds (except for walrus), 
sea turtles (in the water), smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), 
shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum), green (Acipenser medirostris) and 
Gulf (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) sturgeon, black (Haliotis 
cracherodii) and white (Haliotis sorenseni) abalone, chinook 
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), chum (Oncorhynchus keta), coho 
(Oncorhynchus kisutch) and sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) salmon, 
steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and totoaba (Totoaba 
macdonaldi). Permit No. 1614-01, (73 FR 25668) issued on April 30, 2008 
authorizes the permit holder to collect, receive and transport 100 dead 
shortnose sturgeon, or parts thereof, annually. Researchers are also 
authorized the receipt and transport of up to 350 captive bred, dead 
shortnose sturgeon annually from any U.S. facility authorized to hold 
captive sturgeon.
    The permit holders are requesting their permits be modified to 
include Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), due to the 
proposed listing of this species under the ESA. The modifications to 
include Atlantic sturgeon on these permits would be issued once the 
listing becomes effective. The permit holders request authorization for 
the receipt, importation, exportation, transfer, archive and analysis 
of Atlantic sturgeon parts and carcasses. Atlantic sturgeon parts and 
samples would be used to support law enforcement actions, research 
studies (primarily genetics), and outreach education. Atlantic sturgeon 
samples would be obtained from individuals authorized to collect them 
in the course of scientific research, salvage activities, or taken 
during other authorized activities. The modifications would be valid 
until each permit expires.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement 
to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact 
statement.

    Dated: December 20, 2011.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-33166 Filed 12-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P