[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 214 (Wednesday, November 5, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65627-65628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26242]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD594


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Abalone

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt for a request to modify an existing 
scientific research and enhancement permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received one permit 
application request to modify an existing research and enhancement 
permit. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of 
species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide 
management, conservation, and recovery efforts. The application may be 
viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the application 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on December 5, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be submitted to 
the Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, 
Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 707-
578-3435 or by email to [email protected] (include the permit 
number in the subject line of the email).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Jahn, Santa Rosa, CA (ph.: 
707-575-6097), Fax: 707-578-3435, email: [email protected]). Permit 
application instructions are available from the address above, or 
online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni).

Authority

    Scientific research and enhancement permits are issued in 
accordance with section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq) 
and regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR 
parts 222-227). NMFS issues permits based on findings that such 
permits: (1) Are applied for in good faith; (2) if granted and 
exercised, would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species 
that are the subject of the permit; and (3) are consistent with the 
purposes and policy of section 2 of the ESA. The authority to take 
listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits.
    Anyone requesting a hearing on an application listed in this notice 
should

[[Page 65628]]

set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that application would be 
appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are held at the discretion 
of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS.

Application Received

Permit 14344 Modification 1

    The University of California at Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory 
(BML) is seeking to modify permit (14344) that currently authorizes the 
captive maintenance and breeding of captive white abalone. The research 
is designed to (1) investigate and overcome barriers to propagating 
endangered white abalone in captivity, (2) identify reproduction limits 
in wild white abalone, (3) to investigate white abalone disease 
processes and learn how to mitigate them, and (4) seek the most 
successful means of recovering these animals in the wild. The requested 
modification would allow BML to collect wild white abalone from the 
ocean, especially individuals facing immediate harm, in order to 
increase the numbers and genetic integrity of captive broodstock. We 
expect and intend that the captive breeding program will benefit the 
abalone by increasing their numbers, helping to stabilize the 
population, and eventually helping to recover them in the wild. The 
researchers do not intend to kill any of the animals being captured but 
a small number of them may be killed as an inadvertent result of the 
activities.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the applications, associated documents, and comments 
submitted to determine whether the applications meet the requirements 
of section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit 
decisions will not be made until after the end of the 30-day comment 
period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: October 29, 2014.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-26242 Filed 11-4-14; 8:45 am]
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