82 FR 16996 - Endangered Species; Permit Nos. 17861, 19641, 20314, 20340, 20347, 20351, 20528, 20548, and 20651
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 66 (April 7, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 66 (April 7, 2017)
| Page Range | 16996-16997 | |
| FR Document | 2017-07000 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 16996-16997] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-07000] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF116 Endangered Species; Permit Nos. 17861, 19641, 20314, 20340, 20347, 20351, 20528, 20548, and 20651 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that nine individuals or organizations have been issued permits to take Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) and shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research. ADDRESSES: The permits and related documents are available for review 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, (301) 427-8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 18, 2017, a notice was published in the Federal Register [82 FR 5536] announcing nine requests for scientific research permits to take Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon had been submitted. The requested permits have been issued 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 permit is issued to an individual permit holder or organization and its responsible party (RP), and is summarized as follows: Permit No. 17861: Douglas Peterson (Permit Holder), University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry, Athens, GA 30602, was issued a 10- year scientific research permit to study the ecology, population dynamics, and status of Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon in Georgia and Florida river systems. Sturgeon of each species are authorized to be captured with nets during spring and fall and then tagged with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, and Floy tags, genetic tissue sampled, and measured and weighed prior to release. Subsets of fish will be acoustically tagged, gonadal sampled through endoscopic sex determination, and have blood and fin-ray samples taken. Early life stages of each species are also authorized to be collected, documenting the occurrence and periodicity of spawning in Georgia and Florida river systems. Permit No. 19641: The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Marine Fisheries, Tom Savoy (RP), P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371, was issued a ten-year scientific research permit to study Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon in Connecticut waters, monitoring their presence, abundance, age and sex composition, habitat utilization, and seasonal movement. Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon are authorized to be captured with nets and trawls, and then measured, weighed, tissue sampled, PIT tagged, Floy tagged, and photographed, [[Page 16997]] prior to release. A subset of fish also will be fin ray sampled, blood sampled, acoustic tagged, and gastric lavaged. Permit No. 20314: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albert Spells (RP), 11110 Kimages Road, Charles City 23030, was issued a 10-year scientific research permit to study Atlantic sturgeon in the Chesapeake Bay and its Maryland, Virginia and Delaware tributaries. The research objectives are to identify the health of the Atlantic sturgeon population, monitor reproductive success, spawning adult and juvenile abundance in tributaries, and evaluate movement patterns and habitat preferences in and between tributaries of the Bay. Adult and juvenile Atlantic sturgeon are authorized to be captured with nets and trawls and then measured, genetic tissue sampled, PIT tagged, Floy tagged, photographed, and weighed and measured prior to release. A subset of fish will be acoustically tagged and have fin rays, blood and gonad tissues sampled. Early life stages will also be collected to document the occurrence and periodicity of spawning of Atlantic sturgeon in Chesapeake Bay tributaries. Permit No. 20340: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Kim McKown (RP), 205 Belle Mead Road, East Setauket, NY 11733, was issued a 10-year scientific research permit to conduct studies on Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon in the Hudson River. Major objectives include acoustic telemetry and mark-recapture studies to determine adult and juvenile Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon movement, population numbers, and habitat preference. Fish are authorized to be captured by gill nets in year-round sampling, and then measured, weighed, PIT tagged, genetic tissue sampled, and photographed before release. A subset of these fish will be externally and/or internally tagged, fin ray sampled for aging, gastric lavaged, gonadal biopsied, and blood sampled. Early life stages of Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon will be collected, documenting the occurrence of spawning in the Hudson River. Permit No. 20347: The University of Maine, School of Marine Sciences, Gayle Zydlewski (RP), 5741 Libby Hall, Room 202A, Orono, ME 04469, was issued a 10-year scientific research permit authorizing research on Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon occurring in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) and its tributaries. Adult, and juvenile sturgeon of each species will be sampled with nets, trawls, and trotlines, annually, and then measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue sampled, and photographed. A subset will be acoustically tagged, apical scute and fin ray sampled for age analysis, gastric lavaged, borescoped, and blood sampled. Early life stages of both sturgeon species will be collected to document the occurrence of spawning in GOM tributaries. Permit No. 20351: The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Michael Frisk (RP), Stony Brook, NY 11794, was issued a 10-year scientific research permit to conduct studies on Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon, examining the movement Atlantic sturgeon marine aggregation areas located in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut waters. Research will also provide genetic stock identification and acquire diet, age, and parasite- prevalence data. Other objectives will target Atlantic sturgeon adult and sub-adults within the marine aggregation areas, and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Sturgeon are authorized to be captured with nets and trawls, then measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue sampled, and photographed before release. A subset of these fish will be acoustically tagged, fin ray sampled, gastric lavaged, gonadal sampled, apical scute sampled, ultrasound performed, and blood sampled. Early life stages of both sturgeon species will be collected, documenting the occurrence of spawning in the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Permit No. 20528: The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Bill Post (RP), 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, was issued a 10-years scientific research permit to conduct studies on Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon in South Carolina waters, determining their presence, status, health, habitat use, and movements. Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon are authorized to be captured with nets, and then measured, weighed, PIT tagged, genetic tissue sampled, and photographed before released. A subset of these individuals will be acoustically tagged, fin ray sampled, and gonadal biopsied. Early life stages of both sturgeon species will be collected, documenting the occurrence and periodicity of spawning in South Carolina river systems. Permit No. 20548: Dewayne Fox (Permit Holder), Delaware State University, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1200 North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, was issued a 10-year scientific research permit to study Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon using gillnets, biotelemetry, and hydroacoustic tools in the Delaware and Hudson Rivers and estuaries, and in Atlantic coastal environments between Virginia and New York. The primary objective are developing quantitative estimates of run size, recruitment, and habitat assessment. Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon are authorized to be captured, measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue sampled, and photographed. A subset of individuals will be externally and/or internally tagged, fin ray sampled, blood sampled, and gonadal biopsied. Early life stages of Atlantic sturgeon will be collected to document the occurrence of spawning in river systems. Permit No. 20651: Entergy Indian Point, Anthony Vitale (RP), 450 Broadway, Buchanan, NY 10511, was issued a 5-year scientific research permit for conducting research on Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon in the Hudson River and Estuary for the Hudson River Biological Monitoring Program (HRBMP), involving 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. Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon are authorized to be captured with trawls and nets, and then measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue sampled, and photographed. Early life stages of each species will be collected to document occurrence of spawning in the Hudson River. Issuance of these permits, as required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permits were: (1) Applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered or threatened species, and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Dated: April 4, 2017. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-07000 Filed 4-6-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![16996 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 66 / Friday, April 7, 2017 / Notices
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. would capture up to 200 individuals of ADDRESSES: The permits and related
each species per year. Captured seals documents are available for review
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that would be measured, sampled (e.g., upon written request or by appointment
Alaska Department of Fish and Game blood, blubber, skin, muscle, and in the Permits and Conservation
(ADF&G), Division of Wildlife whisker), and fitted with transmitters. Division, Office of Protected Resources,
Conservation, Juneau, AK (Responsible The applicant also requests permission NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
Party: Robert Small, Ph.D.), has applied to harass non-target seals of each species 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
in due form for a permit to conduct as well as beluga whales, and (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376.
research on ice seals in Alaska. authorization for a limited number of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email research-related mortalities. Results of Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, (301)
comments must be received on or before these studies would be used to monitor 427–8401.
May 8, 2017. the health and status of each of the four SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
ADDRESSES: The application and related species’ populations, improve January 18, 2017, a notice was
documents are available for review by population assessments, and develop published in the Federal Register [82
selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public mitigation measures to minimize FR 5536] announcing nine requests for
Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on disturbance to these species that are scientific research permits to take
the Applications and Permits for important to the indigenous people of Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose
Protected Species (APPS) home page, Alaska for subsistence food, materials, sturgeon had been submitted. The
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then and for cultural significance. Samples requested permits have been issued
selecting File No. 20466 from the list of would be imported from Russia, under the authority of the Endangered
available applications. Canada, Svalbard (Norway) and Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA;
These documents are also available exported to Canada for analyses. 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the
upon written request or by appointment In compliance with the National regulations governing the taking,
in the Permits and Conservation Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 importing, and exporting of endangered
Division, Office of Protected Resources, U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial and threatened species (50 CFR parts
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room determination has been made that the 222–226). Each permit is issued to an
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone activity proposed is categorically individual permit holder or organization
(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. excluded from the requirement to and its responsible party (RP), and is
Written comments on this application prepare an environmental assessment or summarized as follows:
should be submitted to the Chief, environmental impact statement. Permit No. 17861: Douglas Peterson
Permits and Conservation Division, at Concurrent with the publication of (Permit Holder), University of Georgia
the address listed above. Comments may this notice in the Federal Register, Warnell School of Forestry, Athens, GA
also be submitted by facsimile to (301) NMFS is forwarding copies of the 30602, was issued a 10-year scientific
713–0376, or by email to application to the Marine Mammal research permit to study the ecology,
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please Commission and its Committee of population dynamics, and status of
include the File No. in the subject line Scientific Advisors. Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose
of the email comment. Dated: April 3, 2017. sturgeon in Georgia and Florida river
Those individuals requesting a public systems. Sturgeon of each species are
Julia Harrison,
hearing should submit a written request authorized to be captured with nets
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National during spring and fall and then tagged
Division at the address listed above. The Marine Fisheries Service. with passive integrated transponder
request should set forth the specific (PIT) tags, and Floy tags, genetic tissue
[FR Doc. 2017–06943 Filed 4–6–17; 8:45 am]
reasons why a hearing on this sampled, and measured and weighed
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
application would be appropriate. prior to release. Subsets of fish will be
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara acoustically tagged, gonadal sampled
Young or Amy Sloan, (301) 427–8401. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE through endoscopic sex determination,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The and have blood and fin-ray samples
subject permit is requested under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric taken. Early life stages of each species
authority of the Marine Mammal Administration are also authorized to be collected,
Protection Act of 1972, as amended documenting the occurrence and
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the RIN 0648–XF116 periodicity of spawning in Georgia and
regulations governing the taking and Endangered Species; Permit Nos. Florida river systems.
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR Permit No. 19641: The Connecticut
17861, 19641, 20314, 20340, 20347,
part 216). Department of Energy and
20351, 20528, 20548, and 20651
The applicant requests a five-year Environmental Protection, Marine
permit to conduct scientific research on AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Fisheries, Tom Savoy (RP), P.O. Box
spotted (Phoca largha), ringed (Phoca Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371, was issued a
hispida), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ten-year scientific research permit to
and ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata) seals Commerce. study Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose
in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits. sturgeon in Connecticut waters,
seas of Alaska. The purpose of this monitoring their presence, abundance,
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES
research is to monitor the status and SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that age and sex composition, habitat
health of all four species by analyzing nine individuals or organizations have utilization, and seasonal movement.
samples from the subsistence harvest been issued permits to take Atlantic Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose
and by documenting movements and sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus sturgeon are authorized to be captured
habitat use by tracking animals with oxyrinchus) and shortnose sturgeon with nets and trawls, and then
satellite transmitters. In addition to (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of measured, weighed, tissue sampled, PIT
sampling harvested seals, the applicant scientific research. tagged, Floy tagged, and photographed,
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 66 / Friday, April 7, 2017 / Notices 16997
prior to release. A subset of fish also photographed. A subset will be biotelemetry, and hydroacoustic tools in
will be fin ray sampled, blood sampled, acoustically tagged, apical scute and fin the Delaware and Hudson Rivers and
acoustic tagged, and gastric lavaged. ray sampled for age analysis, gastric estuaries, and in Atlantic coastal
Permit No. 20314: The U.S. Fish and lavaged, borescoped, and blood environments between Virginia and
Wildlife Service, Albert Spells (RP), sampled. Early life stages of both New York. The primary objective are
11110 Kimages Road, Charles City sturgeon species will be collected to developing quantitative estimates of run
23030, was issued a 10-year scientific document the occurrence of spawning size, recruitment, and habitat
research permit to study Atlantic in GOM tributaries. assessment. Atlantic sturgeon and
sturgeon in the Chesapeake Bay and its Permit No. 20351: The School of
shortnose sturgeon are authorized to be
Maryland, Virginia and Delaware Marine and Atmospheric Sciences,
captured, measured, weighed, PIT
tributaries. The research objectives are Stony Brook University, Michael Frisk
to identify the health of the Atlantic (RP), Stony Brook, NY 11794, was tagged, tissue sampled, and
sturgeon population, monitor issued a 10-year scientific research photographed. A subset of individuals
reproductive success, spawning adult permit to conduct studies on Atlantic will be externally and/or internally
and juvenile abundance in tributaries, sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon, tagged, fin ray sampled, blood sampled,
and evaluate movement patterns and examining the movement Atlantic and gonadal biopsied. Early life stages
habitat preferences in and between sturgeon marine aggregation areas of Atlantic sturgeon will be collected to
tributaries of the Bay. Adult and located in New York, New Jersey, document the occurrence of spawning
juvenile Atlantic sturgeon are Delaware, and Connecticut waters. in river systems.
authorized to be captured with nets and Research will also provide genetic stock Permit No. 20651: Entergy Indian
trawls and then measured, genetic tissue identification and acquire diet, age, and Point, Anthony Vitale (RP), 450
sampled, PIT tagged, Floy tagged, parasite-prevalence data. Other Broadway, Buchanan, NY 10511, was
photographed, and weighed and objectives will target Atlantic sturgeon issued a 5-year scientific research
measured prior to release. A subset of adult and sub-adults within the marine
permit for conducting research on
fish will be acoustically tagged and have aggregation areas, and juvenile Atlantic
Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose
fin rays, blood and gonad tissues and shortnose sturgeon in the Hudson
sampled. Early life stages will also be and Delaware Rivers. Sturgeon are sturgeon in the Hudson River and
collected to document the occurrence authorized to be captured with nets and Estuary for the Hudson River Biological
and periodicity of spawning of Atlantic trawls, then measured, weighed, PIT Monitoring Program (HRBMP),
sturgeon in Chesapeake Bay tributaries. tagged, tissue sampled, and involving fisheries sampling to monitor
Permit No. 20340: The New York photographed before release. A subset of ichthyoplankton and juvenile fish
State Department of Environmental these fish will be acoustically tagged, fin abundance and distribution from
Conservation, Kim McKown (RP), 205 ray sampled, gastric lavaged, gonadal Battery Park, Manhattan, upstream to
Belle Mead Road, East Setauket, NY sampled, apical scute sampled, Troy Dam during March through
11733, was issued a 10-year scientific ultrasound performed, and blood October, and in portions of New York
research permit to conduct studies on sampled. Early life stages of both Harbor during November through April.
Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon species will be collected, Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose
sturgeon in the Hudson River. Major documenting the occurrence of sturgeon are authorized to be captured
objectives include acoustic telemetry spawning in the Hudson and Delaware with trawls and nets, and then
and mark-recapture studies to determine Rivers. measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue
adult and juvenile Atlantic sturgeon and Permit No. 20528: The South Carolina sampled, and photographed. Early life
shortnose sturgeon movement, Department of Natural Resources, Bill stages of each species will be collected
population numbers, and habitat Post (RP), 217 Fort Johnson Road,
to document occurrence of spawning in
preference. Fish are authorized to be Charleston, SC 29412, was issued a 10-
the Hudson River.
captured by gill nets in year-round years scientific research permit to
sampling, and then measured, weighed, conduct studies on Atlantic sturgeon Issuance of these permits, as required
PIT tagged, genetic tissue sampled, and and shortnose sturgeon in South by the ESA, was based on a finding that
photographed before release. A subset of Carolina waters, determining their such permits were: (1) Applied for in
these fish will be externally and/or presence, status, health, habitat use, and good faith, (2) will not operate to the
internally tagged, fin ray sampled for movements. Atlantic sturgeon and disadvantage of such endangered or
aging, gastric lavaged, gonadal biopsied, shortnose sturgeon are authorized to be threatened species, and (3) are
and blood sampled. Early life stages of captured with nets, and then measured, consistent with the purposes and
Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose weighed, PIT tagged, genetic tissue policies set forth in section 2 of the
sturgeon will be collected, documenting sampled, and photographed before ESA.
the occurrence of spawning in the released. A subset of these individuals
Hudson River. will be acoustically tagged, fin ray Dated: April 4, 2017.
Permit No. 20347: The University of sampled, and gonadal biopsied. Early Julia Harrison,
Maine, School of Marine Sciences, life stages of both sturgeon species will Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Gayle Zydlewski (RP), 5741 Libby Hall, be collected, documenting the Office of Protected Resources, National
Room 202A, Orono, ME 04469, was occurrence and periodicity of spawning Marine Fisheries Service.
issued a 10-year scientific research in South Carolina river systems. [FR Doc. 2017–07000 Filed 4–6–17; 8:45 am]
permit authorizing research on Atlantic Permit No. 20548: Dewayne Fox
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon (Permit Holder), Delaware State
occurring in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) University, Department of Agriculture
and its tributaries. Adult, and juvenile and Natural Resources, 1200 North
sturgeon of each species will be DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, was
sampled with nets, trawls, and trotlines, issued a 10-year scientific research
annually, and then measured, weighed, permit to study Atlantic sturgeon and
PIT tagged, tissue sampled, and shortnose sturgeon using gillnets,
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Document Created: 2017-04-06 23:49:26
Document Modified: 2017-04-06 23:49:26
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice; issuance of permits. | |
| Contact | Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, (301) 427-8401. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 16996 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF11 |
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