[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32622-32623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12947]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC703


Endangered Species; File Nos. 17557 and 17273

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Ocean Service Marine 
Forensic Lab (NOS Lab) [Responsible Party: M. Katherine Moore], 219 
Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412 (File No. 17557), and the NOAA 
Fisheries Northeast Region, Protected Resources Division [Responsible 
Party: Mary Colligan], 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 (File 
No. 17273), have applied in due form for permits to take marine mammal 
and endangered species parts for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before July 1, 2013.

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 File No. 17557 or 
17273 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices: Permits and Conservation 
Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 
713-0376;
    File No. 17273: Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930; phone (978) 281-9328; fax (978) 281-9394; and
    File No. 17557: Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, 
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on these applications should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division
     by email to [email protected] (include

[[Page 32623]]

the File No. in the subject line of the email),
     by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or
     at the address listed above.
    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 these applications would be appropriate.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits 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 
parts 222-226).
    The NOS Lab (File No. 17557) is requesting authority to receive, 
import, export, transfer, archive, and conduct analyses on an unlimited 
number of marine mammal and endangered species parts. Species include 
all cetaceans, pinnipeds (except for walrus), sea turtles (in the 
water), smalltooth (Pristis pectinata) and largetooth (Pristis 
perotteti) sawfish, shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum), green 
(Acipenser medirostris), Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) 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). Samples would be archived at the NOS Lab and used to 
support law enforcement actions, research studies (primarily genetics), 
and outreach education. No live takes from the wild would be 
authorized. The permit would be valid for five years from the date of 
issuance.
    The NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region (File No. 17273) requests 
authorization to collect, receive and transport 100 dead shortnose and 
100 dead Atlantic sturgeon, or parts thereof, annually. Researchers 
also request authorization for the receipt and transport of up to 350 
captive bred, dead shortnose sturgeon and up to 75 dead, captive bred 
Atlantic sturgeon annually from any U.S. facility authorized to hold 
captive sturgeon. The applicant requests authorization for the receipt, 
importation, exportation, transfer, archive and analysis of Atlantic 
and shortnose sturgeon parts and carcasses. 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. Sturgeon parts and samples would be used to 
support law enforcement actions, research studies (primarily genetics), 
and outreach education. The permit would be valid for five years from 
the date of issuance.

    Dated: May 28, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
 Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-12947 Filed 5-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P