[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56692-56693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22103]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB500]


Endangered Species; File Nos. 25870, 19641, 20528, 23200, and 
25864

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

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

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that four applicants have applied in 
due form for permits or permit modifications for scientific research to 
take Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and shortnose (A. brevirostrum) 
sturgeon, and one researcher has applied for a permit to take 
smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) for purposes of scientific 
research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before November 12, 2021.

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 
appropriate File No. from the list of available applications. These 
documents are also available upon written request via email to 
[email protected].
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Please include the appropriate File No. 
25870, 19641-05, 20528-08, 23200-04, and 25864 in the subject line of 
the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
similar written request via email to [email protected]. The 
request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on the 
requested application would be appropriate.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits and permit modifications 
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. 25870: Harold M. Brundage, Environmental Research and 
Consulting, Inc., 325 Market Street, Lewes, DE 19958, requests a permit 
to conduct scientific research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in 
freshwater and estuary areas of the Delaware River. Research objectives 
include study of abundance, recruitment, temporal-spatial 
distributions, reproduction, and habitat use in the lower non-tidal 
Delaware River, tidal Delaware River, and Delaware Bay. Up to 100 
adult/sub-adult and 230 juvenile shortnose sturgeon and 100 adult/sub-
adult and 230 juvenile Atlantic sturgeon would be captured by gill net 
or trawl, measured, weighed, biologically sampled (tissue), marked 
(passive integrated transponder (PIT) and Floy/T-bar tags), and 
photographed/videoed, annually, prior to release. Sub-sets of Atlantic 
and shortnose sturgeon may be anesthetized and implanted with acoustic 
transmitters or tethered in a nylon sock for hydro-acoustic testing. 
The researcher anticipates a total of one incidental mortality of each 
sturgeon species annually. The permit would be valid for up to 10 years 
from the date of issuance.
    File No. 19641-05: The Connecticut Department of Energy and 
Environmental Protection (Tom Savoy, Responsible Party), P.O. Box 719, 
Old Lyme, CT 06371, requests a modification to Permit No. 19641-02. The 
subject modification to Permit No. 19641-02, issued on June 16, 2020 
(85 FR 43820; July 20, 2020) authorizes researchers to determine the 
presence, status, health, habitat use, and movements of adult, sub-
adult, and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the Connecticut 
River. Researchers may capture sturgeon using gill nets and trawls, 
measure, weigh, PIT tag, tissue sample, anesthetize, acoustically tag, 
fin ray sample, gastric lavage, and photograph individuals prior to 
release. Early life stages (ELS) of both Atlantic and shortnose 
sturgeon may be lethally sampled to document the occurrence of spawning 
in the river. During research activities, unintentional mortality of up 
to one juvenile and adult/sub-adult life stage of each species may 
occur, annually. Due to an rapidly expanding population of shortnose 
sturgeon documented in the Connecticut River, the Permit Holder 
requests authorization to increase take numbers authorized for capture 
and recapture (i.e., from 500 to 1,000) of adult and sub-adult 
shortnose sturgeon, annually. The permit is valid through March 31, 
2027.
    File No. 20528-08: The South Carolina Department of Natural 
Resources (Responsible Party: Bill Post), 217 Fort Johnson Road, 
Charleston, SC 29412, proposes to modify Permit No. 20528-02. The 
subject modification to Permit No. 20528-02, issued on May 28, 2020 (85 
FR 35637; June 11, 2020), authorizes researchers to conduct research on 
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to determine their presence, status, 
health, habitat use, and movements in South Carolina waters. 
Researchers may use gill nets to capture Atlantic and shortnose 
sturgeon to measure, weigh, PIT tag, tissue sample, acoustically tag, 
fin ray sample, gonad biopsy, and photograph prior to release. Early 
life stages of each species may be lethally sampled to document 
occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to two sturgeon of each species 
may unintentionally die annually during sampling activities. The permit 
holder requests authorization to (1) add the objective to perform 
enhancement activities that include the capture and transport of 20 
adult shortnose sturgeon from the Cooper River to the Santee River, 
annually; (2) increase the number of adult/subadult shortnose sturgeon 
for capture, mark (dart, PIT), biologically sample (tissue), measure, 
and weigh from 35 to 200 annually in the Cooper River; (3) increase the 
annual number of adult/subadult and juvenile Atlantic sturgeon from 20 
to 100 and 60 to 150, respectively, for capture, mark (dart, PIT), 
biologically sample(tissue), measure, and weigh in the Santee River; 
(4) increase the annual number of adult/subadult and juvenile shortnose 
sturgeon from 15 to 200 and 15 to 150, respectively, for capture, mark 
(dart, PIT), biologically sample(tissue), measure, and weigh in the 
Santee River; (5) increase the annual number of adult/subadult and 
juvenile shortnose sturgeon from 75 to 200 and 5 to 150, respectively, 
for capture, mark (PIT), biologically sample(tissue), measure, and 
weigh in Lakes Moultrie and Marion and associated tributaries; and (6) 
increase the annual number of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon for capture, 
anesthetize, acoustically tag, biologically sample (tissue), weigh, 
measure, and photograph/video from 10 to 20, annually, in the Winyah 
Bay system. The permit is valid through March 31, 2027.
    File No. 23200-04: The University of North Carolina, Wilmington

[[Page 56693]]

(Responsible Party: Frederick Scharf, Ph.D.), 601 South College Road, 
Wilmington, NC 28403, proposes to modify Permit No. 23200. The permit, 
originally issued on January 31, 2020 (85 FR 7978; February 12, 2020), 
authorizes researchers 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). Researchers may capture Atlantic 
and shortnose sturgeon using gill nets, trammel nets, or trawls, 
measure, weigh, mark (PIT, Floy), biologically sample (tissue), 
anesthetize, acoustically tag, and photograph/video sturgeon prior to 
release. The permit holder requests authorization to (1) increase the 
number of adult/subadult Atlantic sturgeon for capture, anesthetize, 
acoustically tag, mark (PIT, Floy), biologically sample (tissue), 
measure, weigh, and photograph/video from 20 to 40, annually, in the 
Cape Fear, Neuse, and Tar/Pamlico River systems, and (2) conduct 
sampling of Atlantic sturgeon ELS using egg mats and collect up to 100 
ELS annually in each authorized system. The permit is valid through 
January 25, 2025.
    File No. 25864: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
Commission (Responsible Party, Gregg Poulakis, Ph.D.), Fish and 
Wildlife Research Institute, 585 Prineville Street, Port Charlotte, FL 
33954, requests a permit to take smalltooth sawfish (U.S. Distinct 
Population Segment) in Florida waters and elsewhere within the species' 
range. The applicant is proposing to conduct studies, monitoring 
smalltooth sawfish to develop conservation and protective measures and 
ensure the species' recovery. Researchers are requesting to capture 
adult and sub-adult and juvenile animals and then measure, weigh, tag 
(i.e., internal or external acoustic, satellite, archival, PIT, and 
rototag), sample (i.e., genetic, blood, muscle biopsy), and photograph 
prior to release. The applicant also requests to have access to 
salvaged animals and parts taken throughout the species range and to 
import and export parts and samples for analysis, archival and future 
study. The permit would be valid for 10 years from the date of 
issuance.

    Dated: October 6, 2021.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-22103 Filed 10-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P