[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 26724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10655]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA713


Endangered Species; File No. 16436-01

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the New York State Department of 
Environmental Conservation, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 
12561 [Kathryn Hattala: Responsible Party], has applied in due form for 
a permit modification to take Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus 
oxyrinchus) and shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for 
purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before June 9, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The application 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. 16436-01 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following office:
     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.
    Written comments on either application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division
     By email to [email protected] (include 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 the application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead at (301)427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit modification is 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).
    Permit No. 16436 was issued April 6, 2012 (77 FR 21754) to capture 
Atlantic sturgeon life stages in the Hudson River estuary to assess 
juvenile abundance, characterize the adult spawning stock, and generate 
population estimates. Atlantic sturgeon are authorized to be captured 
with gill nets, trammel nets, and trawls; measured, weighed, genetic 
tissue sampled, fin ray clipped for aging; PIT tagged and Floy tagged, 
internally and externally acoustic tagged; anesthetized with up to 150 
ppm MS-222; and gastric lavaged. The Permit Holder now proposes to 
consolidate takes of shortnose sturgeon, currently authorized 
separately in Permit No. 16439 with the takes of Atlantic sturgeon 
authorized in Permit No. 16436. The shortnose sturgeon Permit No. 16439 
would be terminated upon issuance of the modification to Permit No. 
16436. The Permit Holder also requests increasing the numbers and 
procedures for taking both Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to meet 
further objectives, including understanding the impacts of both species 
to the (1) construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge, (2) laying of high 
voltage cable in the Hudson River by the Champlain Hudson Power Express 
project, and (3) impacts of high loads of contaminants identified in 
the Hudson River. New methods introduced in the modification would 
include contaminant research, incorporating laparoscopic liver biopsy, 
and anesthetizing animals with 250 mg/l MS-222 and electro-narcosis. A 
total of three incidental mortalities of shortnose and Atlantic 
sturgeon are anticipated annually as a result of increased research 
activity. The modification would be valid through the expiration date 
of the original Permit No. 16436 on April 5, 2017.

    Dated: May 5, 2014.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-10655 Filed 5-8-14; 8:45 am]
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