[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 160 (Monday, August 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50395-50396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20120]


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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: Issuance of permits.

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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 been issued permits to take marine mammal and 
endangered species parts for purposes of scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permits and related documents are available for review 
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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 31, 2013, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (78 FR 32622) that requests for a scientific research 
permits to take marine mammal and endangered species parts had been 
submitted by the above-named organizations. The requested permits have 
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 NOS Lab (File No. 17557) has been issued a permit 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 (P. perotteti) 
sawfish, shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum), green (A. medirostris), 
Atlantic (A. oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) and Gulf (A. oxyrinchus desotoi) 
sturgeon, black (Haliotis cracherodii) and white (H. sorenseni) 
abalone, chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), chum (O. keta), coho (O. 
kisutch) and sockeye (O. nerka) salmon, steelhead trout (O. 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 is valid for five years from the 
date of issuance.
    The NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region (File No. 17273) has been 
issued a permit 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 is valid for five years from the 
date of issuance.
    Issuance of these permits, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permits (1) were applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) are consistent with the purposes and

[[Page 50396]]

policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: August 14, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20120 Filed 8-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P