[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22517-22518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08870]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB155


Endangered Species; File No. 16549

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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[[Page 22518]]

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish 
Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey; Box 796, 1 Migratory Way, 
Turners Falls, MA 01376 [Barnaby Watten: Responsible Party], has been 
issued a permit [File No. 16549] to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser 
brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376; and
     Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930; phone (978) 281-9328; fax (978) 281-9394.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 11, 2012, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (77 FR 21750) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take shortnose sturgeon had been submitted by the 
above-named applicant. The requested permit has been issued 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).
    The Permit Holder is issued a five-year permit to study shortnose 
sturgeon in the wild and in captivity, determining up and downstream 
migrations, habitat use, spawning periodicity, seasonal movements of 
shortnose sturgeon in the Connecticut River from Agawam, MA to 
Montague, MA. He will also perform captive animal research in 
laboratory tests of up- and downstream fish passage studies, swimming 
performance tests, tagging studies, anesthesiology, behavior, 
physiology and contaminant studies, as well as producing progeny for 
further research. Additionally, the Permit Holder will collect 
fertilized embryo from each of the following rivers: Merrimack River 
(MA), and the Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers (ME).
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: April 11, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-08870 Filed 4-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P