Permits: Endangered and threatened species,

[Federal Register: August 3, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 148)]

[Notices]

[Page 41229-41230]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr03au98-36]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072498C]

Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of an application for a research/enhancement permit (1174); issuance of a modification to a scientific research permit (1015).

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding permits for takes of endangered and threatened species for the purposes of scientific research and/or enhancement: NMFS has received a permit application from: Mr. Harold Brundage III, Environmental Research and Consulting, Inc (ERCI)(1174); NMFS has issued a modification to a permit subject to certain conditions set forth therein, to: Dr. Frank A. Chapman, of Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (DFAS)(1015).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the application must be received on or before September 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the permit application should be sent to:

Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301- 713-1401).

All documents pertaining to permits in this notice are available for review,

[[Page 41230]]

by appointment, by contacting the above address, or:

Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, 9721 Executive Center Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813-893-3141).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Jordan, Endangered Species Division, (301) 713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

Permits are requested under the authority of section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and the NMFS regulations governing ESA-listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 217-227).

All statements and opinions contained in the below application summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS. The holding of a hearing on this permit is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA.

Issuance of this modification, as required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such modification: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species which is the subject of the permit; and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. This modifications was also issued in accordance with and is subject to parts 217-222 of Title 50 CFR, the NMFS regulations governing listed species permits.

New Application Received

ERCI (1174) requests a 5-year permit to take and conduct research on endangered shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in the Delaware River and Estuary system and in the lower Susquehanna River/ Chesapeake Bay Complex. The objectives of the study are to collect data on current distribution, abundance, length structure and movements of shortnose sturgeon in the Delaware River Estuary and in the lower Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay. Emphasis will be placed on calculating reliable population estimates, determining aggregation areas, and obtaining information on juvenile shortnose sturgeon. Information on population size and length distribution for the Delaware River population will be compared with that during the 1980s.

Modification Issued

On June 15, 1998 NMFS received a request from DFAS for a modification to Permit 1015. Permit 1015 allows shortnose sturgeon to be maintained in captivity. The fish would be PIT-tagged, anaesthetized, handled, have blood and tissue samples taken, and be spawned and progeny reared, in accordance with the application and current handling standards. The modification to the permit increases the number of sturgeon that the applicant may maintain in captivity from 200 to 619. The 619 consist of: 100 1- to 3-year old sturgeon; 50 2-year old sturgeon; 30 ripe female sturgeon; 20 ripe male sturgeon; 69 sturgeon transferred from Mote Marine Laboratory (#1028) and 350 1997- year class sturgeon obtained as part of a group of 5,000 from the USFWS hatchery in Bear Bluff, SC between May and June, 1997. Modification 1 is good for the duration of the permit, which expires on September 30, 2001.

Dated: July 28, 1998. Patricia A. Montanio, Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98-20633Filed7-31-98; 8:45 am]

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