[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 67720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26666]



[[Page 67720]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XR072]


Endangered Species; File Nos. 22671-01, 23096, and 23200

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for permits and a permit 
modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that three applicants have applied in 
due form for a permit to take Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and 
shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum) sturgeon for purposes of scientific 
research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before January 10, 2020.

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 the 
applicable 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 these 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 would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead (for File Nos. 22671-01 
and 23096) or Erin Markin (for File No. 23200), (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits and permit modification 
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).
    File No. 22671-01: Permit No. 22671 was issued on March 12, 2019 
(83 FR 61375), authorizing the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Conte 
Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, 1 Migratory Way, Turners Falls, MA 
01376 (Responsible Party: Adria Elskus), to take shortnose sturgeon in 
the Connecticut River. Researchers are currently permitted to capture 
adult, sub-adult and juvenile shortnose sturgeon using gill nets or 
trawls (i.e., trawling is conducted between Turner Falls Dam and 
Holyoke Dam), measure, weigh, tag, tissue sample, determine gender via 
boroscopy, photograph, and prophylactically treat prior to release. A 
subset of sturgeon may be anesthetized and implanted with acoustic tags 
(internal or external) for tracking. Lethal sampling of early life 
stages (eggs and larvae) may occur using D-nets. The Permit Holder is 
also authorized to conduct scientific research and enhancement 
activities on captive, non-releasable shortnose sturgeon.
    The permit holder requests additional authorization for blood 
sampling to evaluate stress levels experienced by the upstream-migrant 
shortnose sturgeon in upstream passage through the Holyoke fish 
elevator. Blood samples from treatment animals would be collected at 
the height of the fish passage elevator and also from control animals 
below the dam prior to entering the lift. Additionally, the permit 
holder requests trawling gear to be authorized for capturing shortnose 
sturgeon in the Connecticut River between Turner Falls Dam (MA) and 
Bellows Falls Dam (VT). The permit would expire on March 31, 2029.
    File No. 23096: The University of Georgia, Warnell School of 
Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA 30602 
(Responsible Party: Dale Greene) requests a permit to conduct 
scientific research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to determine the 
presence, status, health, population dynamics, and movements of 
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the coastal river basins and 
estuaries of Georgia and Northeast Florida (Savannah, Ogeechee, 
Altamaha, Satilla, and St. Marys (GA) and St. Johns/Nassau (FL)). 
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon would be captured using gill nets and/
or trammel nets. Juvenile, sub-adult, and adult sturgeon would be PIT 
tagged, tissue sampled (fin clip), measured, weighed, and photographed. 
A subset of individual animals may be anesthetized, internally or 
externally acoustically tagged, biologically sampled (fin ray, blood, 
gonads), and undergo endoscopy to determine sex. Lethal sampling of 
sturgeon eggs and larvae using artificial substrates would occur to 
verify spawning incidence. Tissue samples would be exported to Canada 
for DNA virus analysis. Incidental mortality of up to one adult/sub-
adult and one juvenile Atlantic sturgeon may occur annually in the 
Savannah, Ogeechee, Altamaha, and Satilla Rivers; and up to one adult/
sub-adult and one juvenile shortnose sturgeon may occur annually in the 
Savannah, Ogeechee, and Altamaha Rivers. The permit would be valid for 
up to 10 years from the date of issuance.
    File No. 23200: The University of North Carolina, Wilmington, 601 
South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403 (Responsible Party: Frederick 
Scharf), requests a permit to conduct scientific research on adult, 
sub-adult, and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to determine 
their abundance, distribution, habitat use, and migration dynamics in 
the coastal rivers and estuaries of North Carolina basins (Cape Fear, 
Neuse, Tar/Pamlico, Roanoke/Chowan). Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon 
would be captured using gill nets, trammel nets, or trawls, measured, 
weighed, tagged (PIT, Floy), biologically sampled (tissue), and 
photographed/videoed. A subset of Atlantic sturgeon would be 
anesthetized and receive an internal acoustic tag. The permit would be 
valid for up to 5 years from the date of issuance.

    Dated: December 6, 2019.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-26666 Filed 12-10-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P