[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5536-5538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00956]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF116


Endangered Species; File Nos. 19641, 17861, 20314, 20340, 20347, 
20351, 20528, 20548, and 20651

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 nine applicants have applied in 
due form for permits 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 February 17, 2017.

[[Page 5537]]


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 
corresponding File No. from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the 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 applications should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    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 or Erin Markin, (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).
    Each application is summarized below. Please refer to the 
associated application for specific take numbers. Permits may be valid 
for up to 10 years.
    File No. 19641: Tom Savory, Connecticut Department of Energy and 
Environmental Protection, Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 
06371, requests a permit to collect, examine and tag shortnose and 
Atlantic sturgeon in Connecticut waters. Shortnose sturgeon research 
would be conducted in the Connecticut River from the mouth to the 
Holyoke Dam. Researchers would monitor for presence, abundance, age and 
sex composition, habitat utilization, and seasonal movement. Atlantic 
and shortnose sturgeon would be measured, tissue sampled, passive 
integrated transponder (PIT) tagged, photographed, and weighed prior to 
release. A subset of fish also would be fin ray sampled, blood sampled, 
acoustic tagged, and gastric lavaged. Up to three sturgeon of each 
species may unintentionally die annually during research.
    File No. 17861: Douglas Peterson, University of Georgia Warnell 
School of Forestry and Natural Resources Fisheries Division, Athens, GA 
30602, requests a permit to better understand the ecology, population 
dynamics, and status of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in Georgia and 
Florida river systems. Spring and fall sampling would occur for 
Atlantic and shortnose. Fish would be PIT tagged, tissue sampled, 
measured, and weighed prior to release. A subset of fish would be 
acoustically tagged, fin ray sampled for aging, blood sampled, gonadal 
sampled, and endoscopic sex determination. Early life stages of each 
species would be intentionally collected and killed to document 
occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to eight Atlantic sturgeon and 
six shortnose sturgeon may unintentionally die annually in all river 
systems.
    File No. 20314: Albert Spells, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
11110 Kimages Road, Charles City 23030, requests a permit to conduct 
research in Maryland and Virginia tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay as 
well as within the Chesapeake Bay proper. The objectives of the 
research are to (1) identify the overall health of the DPS, (2) monitor 
reproductive success, spawning adult and juvenile abundance in 
tributaries, and (3) evaluate movement patterns and habitat preferences 
in and between tributaries of the Bay. Sampling gear would include 
anchored/floating gillnets and other nets. Fish would be PIT tagged, 
tissue sampled, measured, and weighed prior to release. Individual fish 
would receive a T-bar, acoustic, and/or satellite tag. A subset of fish 
would be fin ray sampled. Early life stages of Atlantic sturgeon would 
be intentionally collected and killed to document occurrence of 
spawning in systems. Up to two Atlantic sturgeon may unintentionally 
die annually during research.
    File No. 20340: Kim McKown, New York State Department of 
Environmental Conservation, 205 Belle Mead Road, East Setuaket, NY 
11733, requests a permit to conduct research on Atlantic and shortnose 
sturgeon to determine movement of adult sturgeon in the Hyde Park area, 
movement of age-1 sturgeon in the Hudson River, population estimates, 
and habitat utilization. Fish would be collected by gill nets year-
round during ice-free periods. Studies would involve acoustic telemetry 
and mark-recapture. Upon capture, fish would be measured, weighed, PIT 
tagged, tissue sampled, and photographed. A subset of fish would be 
externally and/or internally tagged, fin ray sampled for aging, gastric 
lavaged, gonadal biopsied, and blood sampled. Early life stages of 
Atlantic sturgeon would be intentionally collected and killed to 
document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to four Atlantic 
sturgeon and three shortnose sturgeon may unintentionally die annually 
during research.
    File 20347: Gayle Zydlewski, University of Maine, requests a permit 
to conduct research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to (1) determine 
spawning periodicity and age class distribution, and (2) identify 
critical habitat and movement within and between river systems. 
Research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the Gulf of Maine would 
continue in several river systems: Penobscot River, Kennebec River, 
Saco River, and Merrimack River. All sampling would occur in riverine 
or near coastal areas annually. Adults, subadults, and juveniles would 
be sampled with gill nets, trammel nets, trot lines, and a miniature 
Missouri trawl in the spring, summer, and fall annually. Upon capture, 
fish would be measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue sampled, and 
photographed. A subset of fish would be acoustically tagged, fin ray, 
apical scute sampled, gastric lavaged, borescopy, and blood sampled. 
Early life stages of each species would be intentionally collected and 
killed to document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to four 
sturgeon of each species may unintentionally die annually during 
research.
    File No. 20351: Michael Frisk, the School of Marine and Atmospheric 
Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, requests a 
permit to conduct research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to 
continue a long-term study examining the movements among and within 
Atlantic sturgeon marine aggregation areas located in New York, New 
Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut waters and to conduct research to 
examine (1) sex-specific movements, (2) genetic stock identification, 
and (3) acquisition of diet, age, and parasite-prevalence data. 
Additional research would target adults within the marine aggregation 
areas, and target early life stage and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose 
sturgeon within riverine and estuarine areas of the Hudson and Delaware 
Rivers. Upon capture, fish would be measured, weighed, PIT tagged, 
tissue sampled, and photographed. A subset of fish would be externally 
and/or internally tagged, fin ray sampled, gastric lavaged, gonadal 
sampled, apical scute sampled, ultrasound, and blood sampled. Early

[[Page 5538]]

life stages of each species would be intentionally collected and killed 
to document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to three Atlantic 
sturgeon and two shortnose sturgeon may unintentionally die annually 
during research.
    File No. 20528: Bill Post, South Carolina Department of Natural 
Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, requests a 
permit to conduct research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to 
determine their presence, status, health, habitat use, and movements in 
South Carolina waters. Studies would involve using gill nets to capture 
fish. Upon capture, fish would be measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue 
sampled, and photographed. A subset of individuals would be 
acoustically tagged, fin ray sampled, and gonadal biopsied. Early life 
stages of each species would be intentionally collected and killed to 
document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to two sturgeon of each 
species may unintentionally die annually during research.
    File No. 20548: Dewayne Fox, Delaware State University, Department 
of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1200 North DuPont Highway, Dover, 
DE 19901, requests a permit to conduct research on Atlantic and 
shortnose sturgeon using gillnets, D-ring nets, egg pad collectors, 
biotelemetry, and hydroacoustic tools in the Delaware River/Estuary, 
Hudson River/Estuary, and coastal environment between Virginia and New 
York to develop quantitative estimates of run size, recruitment, and 
habitat assessment. Upon capture, fish would be measured, weighed, PIT 
tagged, tissue sampled, and photographed. A subset of individuals would 
be externally and/or internally tagged, fin ray sampled, blood sampled, 
and gonadal biopsied. Early life stages of Atlantic sturgeon would be 
intentionally collected and killed to document occurrence of spawning 
in systems. Up to one sturgeon of each species may unintentionally die 
annually during research.
    File No. 20651: Anthony Vitale, Entergy Indian Point, 450 Broadway, 
Buchanan, NY 10511, requests a permit to conduct research on Atlantic 
and shortnose sturgeon for the Hudson River Biological Monitoring 
Program (HRBMP) using trawls and seines. The HRBMP takes place within 
in the Hudson River estuary and involves fisheries sampling to monitor 
ichthyoplankton and juvenile fish abundance and distribution from 
Battery Park, Manhattan, upstream to Troy Dam during March through 
October, and in portions of New York Harbor during November through 
April. Upon capture, individual fish would be measured, weighed, PIT 
tagged, tissue sampled, and photographed. Early life stages of each 
species would be intentionally collected and killed to document 
occurrence of spawning in systems.

    Dated: January 11, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-00956 Filed 1-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P