[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 76 (Monday, April 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21833-21834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08237]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA109]


Endangered Species; File No. 19641

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for a permit modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Connecticut Department of 
Energy and Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, 
Connecticut 06371 (Responsible Party: Tom Savoy), has requested a 
modification to scientific research Permit No. 19641-01.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before May 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The modification request and related documents are available 
for review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
Features box on the Applications and Permits for

[[Page 21834]]

Protected Species (APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and 
then selecting File No. 19641-03 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 this application 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 this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 
19641-01, issued on March 12, 2019 (84 FR 15595), is requested under 
the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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. 19641-01 authorizes the permit holder to conduct 
scientific research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to determine 
their presence, status, health, habitat use, and movements in 
Connecticut waters. Researchers may use gill nets and trawls to capture 
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to then measure, weigh, passive 
integrated transponder (PIT) tag, tissue sample, and photograph prior 
to release. A subset of individuals may also be anesthetized, 
acoustically tagged, fin ray sampled, and gastric lavaged. Early life 
stages (ELS) of shortnose sturgeon may be lethally sampled to document 
the occurrence of spawning in Connecticut waters. During research 
activities, the unintentional mortality of up to one juvenile and 
adult/sub-adult life stage of each species may occur, annually. Due to 
an expanding population of shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon in the 
Connecticut River, the Permit Holder requests annual increases in the 
take numbers authorized (i.e., from 250 to 500) for both juvenile 
Atlantic sturgeon and adult/sub-adult shortnose sturgeon life stages. 
The Permit Holder also requests authorization for lethal collection of 
300 Atlantic sturgeon ELS to document the occurrence of spawning events 
in Connecticut waters. The permit expires March 31, 2027.

    Dated: April 14, 2020.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-08237 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]
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