[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 47440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19074]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC348


Endangered Species; File No. 17364-01

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit modification.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(USFWS), Northeast Fishery Center, PO Box 75, Lamar, PA 16848 [Michael 
Millard: Responsible Party], has applied in due form for a permit 
modification [File No. 17364-01] to take captive Atlantic sturgeon 
(Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) for purposes of conducting scientific 
research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before September 12, 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. 17364-01 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 the application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division
     by email to [email protected] (include the File 
No. 17364-01 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(s) 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. 17364 was issued March 14, 2013 (78 FR 17640) with the 
Permit Holder's objectives stated as to refine propagation and culture 
techniques of captive Atlantic sturgeon held in refugia at the USFWS's 
Northeast Fisheries Center, providing a source of research animals for 
studies related to tagging, tracking, behavior, physiology, genetics, 
health, cryopreservation, and other methods for population 
conservation, recovery, or enhancement of the species in the wild.
    The Permit Holder now proposes including five captive holding 
facilities of Atlantic sturgeon located in the state of Maryland, as 
well as co-investigators, to conduct similar scientific research on 
life stages of captive Atlantic sturgeon. Study objectives would 
include nutrition, physiology, propagation, contaminants, genetics, 
fish health, cryopreservation, tagging, and refugia. Additionally, 
studies would examine abiotic factors (e.g., pH, temperature, salinity 
dissolved oxygen, etc) influencing distribution and abundance in the 
wild. The modifications would be valid until expiration of the permit 
on March 13, 2018.

    Dated: August 7, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-19074 Filed 8-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P