[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68466-68467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24810]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC548]


Endangered Species; File No. 22671

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 U.S. Geological Survey, Conte 
Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, 1 Migratory Way, Turners Falls, MA 
01376, (Responsible Party: Alexander Haro, Ph.D.), has requested a 
modification to scientific research Permit No. 22671-02.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or emailed comments must be received on or 
before December 15, 2022.

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 Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 22671 mod 4 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 File No. 22671 in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request

[[Page 68467]]

via email to [email protected]. 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, Ph.D., 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 
22671-02, issued on January 31, 2020 (85 FR 7978, February 12, 2020), 
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 22671-02 authorizes the permit holder to study the presence, 
life history, population size, migration, physiology, and passage of 
wild shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in the Connecticut 
River. The permit also authorizes use of captive (non-releasable) 
shortnose sturgeon for research and enhancement objectives. In research 
conducted on wild fish, researchers may use gill nets and trawls to 
capture juvenile and adult/sub-adult shortnose sturgeon to measure, 
weigh, passive integrated transponder tag (PIT), borescope, genetic 
tissue and blood sample, and photograph prior to release. A subset of 
animals may also be anesthetized and receive internal acoustic 
transmitters. Early life stages (ELS) may be lethally sampled with D-
nets and egg mats to document spawning incidence. Up to two juvenile 
and one adult or sub-adult sturgeon may unintentionally die annually 
during research activities. The permit holder requests new 
authorization between the Holyoke Dam to Agawam, Massachusetts to add 
new objectives and take, including (1) determining the range, ecology, 
habitat, and recruitment of juvenile shortnose sturgeon life stages; 
(2) using egg mat and D-net samplers to collect 150 ELS below the 
Holyoke Dam; (3) capturing up to 200 young-of-year and older juvenile 
shortnose sturgeon annually using gillnets, mini-trawl, beach seine, 
and cast-net sampling gear. Up to 175 of these would be PIT tagged, 
measured, photographed, fin clipped, and weighed, and up to 25 would be 
anesthetized and internally tagged before being released; (4) capturing 
up to 50 adult/sub-adult shortnose sturgeon annually, adding 
procedures, including borescope; PIT tag; measure; photo/video; fin 
clip (genetic) and weigh. Additionally, up to five of these fish, 
having expired acoustic transmitters, may also have them surgically 
reimplanted under anesthesia; and (5) anesthetizing and implanting 
acoustic tags in up to 20 adult/sub-adult shortnose sturgeon 
approaching the Holyoke Dam aggregation; and (6) performing additional 
procedures, including measure, weigh, PIT tag, photo, genetic tissue 
sample, and borescope, on up to 20 adult/sub-adult shortnose sturgeon 
collected under another authority in the Holyoke Dam fish lift. The 
permit is valid through March 31, 2029.

    Dated: November 9, 2022.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-24810 Filed 11-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P