Endangered Species; File No. 10115, 9525-9526 [E8-3258]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 35 / Thursday, February 21, 2008 / Notices the state in question (in this case, New Jersey) has failed to carry out its responsibilities under the ISFMP. Second, the Secretary of Commerce must determine whether the measures that the State has failed to implement or enforce are necessary for the conservation of the fishery in question. If the Secretary of Commerce makes affirmative findings on both criteria, then the Secretary must implement a moratorium on fishing in the fishery in question (in this case tautog) within the waters of the noncomplying state (in this case New Jersey). Further, the moratorium must become effective within six (6) months of the date of the Secretary’s non-compliance determination. To the extent that the allegedly offending state later implements the involved measure, the Atlantic Coastal Act allows the state to petition the Commission that it has come back into compliance, and if the Commission concurs, the Commission will notify the Secretary of Commerce and, if the Secretary concurs, the moratorium will be withdrawn. The Secretary of Commerce has delegated Atlantic Coastal Act authorities to the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at NMFS. NMFS has notified the State of New Jersey, the Commission, the MidAtlantic Fishery Management Council, and the New England Fishery Management Council, in separate letters, of its receipt of the Commission’s non-compliance referral. In the letters, NMFS solicits commentary from the Commission and Councils to the extent either entity is interested in providing such. NMFS also indicates to the State of New Jersey that the State is entitled to meet with and present its comments directly to NMFS if the State so desires. NMFS intends to make its noncompliance determination on or about March 11, 2008, which is 30 days after receipt of the Commission’s noncompliance referral. NMFS will announce its determination by Federal Register notice immediately thereafter. To the extent that NMFS makes an affirmative non-compliance finding, NMFS will announce the effective date of the moratorium in that Federal Register notice. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES Authority: 16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. Dated: February 15, 2008. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–3252 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:34 Feb 20, 2008 Jkt 214001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Science Advisory Board Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of open meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Science Advisory Board (SAB) was established by a Decision Memorandum dated September 25, 1997, and is the only Federal Advisory Committee with responsibility to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on strategies for research, education, and application of science to operations and information services. SAB activities and advice provide necessary input to ensure that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) science programs are of the highest quality and provide optimal support to resource management. Time and Date: The meeting will be held Wednesday, March 12, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and Thursday, March 13, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. These times and the agenda topics described below are subject to change. Please refer to the Web page: https:// www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/ meetings.html for the most up-to-date meeting agenda. Place: The meeting will be held both days at the Hilton Washington DC/ Silver Spring, 8727 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please check the SAB Web site https:// www.sab.noaa.gov for confirmation of the venue. Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 30-minute public comment period on March 12 (check Web site to confirm time). The SAB expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted verbal or written statements. In general, each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of five (5) minutes. Written comments should be received in the SAB Executive Director’s Office by March 7, 2008 to provide sufficient time for SAB review. Written comments received by the SAB Executive Director after March 7, 2008, will be distributed to the SAB, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Matters To Be Considered: The meeting will include the following PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 9525 topics: (1) Draft Report from the Working Group to Examine Advisory Options for Improving Communications among NOAA’s Partners (Partnerships WG or PWG); (2) Final Report from the Extension, Outreach & Education Working Group (EOEWG); (3) Report on the Final Results from the Ocean Exploration Advisory Working Group workshops; (4) NOAA Response to the SAB High-Performance Computing Recommendations and the Way Forward; (5) Discussion of a proposed SAB standing working group on ecosystems; (6) NOAA Monitoring Research Committee process updates and SAB Benchmark Review Discussion; (7) Discussion of SAB Strategic Planning; (8) the Census of Marine Life (CoML) Program; (9) the NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel; (10) results of the Review of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program; (11) Report on NOAA Activities in Support of the International Year of the Reef (IYR); (12) Report on NOAA Activities in Support of the International Polar Year (IPY); and (13) the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Cynthia Decker, Executive Director, Science Advisory Board, NOAA, Rm. 11230, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: 301– 734–1156, Fax: 301–713–1459, E-mail: Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov); or visit the NOAA SAB Web site at: https:// www.sab.noaa.gov. Dated: February 13, 2008. Mark Brown, Chief Financial Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. E8–3259 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF59 Endangered Species; File No. 10115 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Douglas Peterson, University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forest Resources, Athens, GA 30602, has applied in due form for a permit to take shortnose E:\FR\FM\21FEN1.SGM 21FEN1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES 9526 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 35 / Thursday, February 21, 2008 / Notices sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or before March 24, 2008. ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)713–2289; fax (301)713–0376; and Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; phone (727)824–5312; fax (727)824– 5309. Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)713–0376, provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: File No. 10115. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandy Belmas or Malcolm Mohead, (301)713–2289. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is 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 222–226). Dr. Douglas Peterson is seeking a fiveyear scientific research permit to conduct a presence/absence study of shortnose sturgeon in the St. Marys and Satilla Rivers, Georgia. The purpose of the proposed research is to assess the current status of shortnose sturgeon in these rivers, as well as evaluate the current habitat availability in each river. If shortnose sturgeon are found, another objective of the proposed research would be to quantify the genetic discreteness and effective population size of the extant stock. The applicant is requesting to capture (by anchored VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:34 Feb 20, 2008 Jkt 214001 gill or trammel nets), measure, weigh, PIT tag, fin clip, and fin ray sample 73 shortnose sturgeon annually from each river. Blood samples would be collected from another 12 fish from each river annually, and internal radio tags would be implanted in a total of 10 fish from each river over the life of the permit. Those fish that have blood collected and internal tags implanted would also be anesthetized and have their sex determined using laparoscopic procedures. Up to 20 eggs and larvae from each river would be collected by egg mats annually. A total of one unintentional mortality, for both rivers combined, is being requested each year. Dated: February 14, 2008. Tammy C. Adams, Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–3258 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF33 Small Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Marine Geophysical Survey off Central America, February-April 2008 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of incidental take authorization. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO), a part of Columbia University, for the take of marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to conducting a marine seismic survey off Central America during February-April, 2008. DATES: Effective February 15, 2008, through February 14, 2009. ADDRESSES: A copy of the IHA and the application are available by writing to P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3225 or by telephoning the contact listed here. A copy of the application containing a list of the PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 references used in this document may be obtained by writing to the address specified above, telephoning the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or visiting the internet at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications. Documents cited in this notice may be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the aforementioned address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Nachman, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 713–2289 x156. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the public for review. Authorization shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ’’...an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.≥ Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA established an expedited process by which citizens of the United States can apply for an authorization to incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals by harassment. Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the MMPA defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering [Level B harassment]. E:\FR\FM\21FEN1.SGM 21FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 35 (Thursday, February 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9525-9526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3258]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF59


Endangered Species; File No. 10115

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Douglas Peterson, University 
of Georgia, Warnell School of Forest Resources, Athens, GA 30602, has 
applied in due form for a permit to take shortnose

[[Page 9526]]

sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before March 24, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and 
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)713-0376, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
    Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing e-mail comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 10115.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandy Belmas or Malcolm Mohead, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is 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 
222-226).
    Dr. Douglas Peterson is seeking a five-year scientific research 
permit to conduct a presence/absence study of shortnose sturgeon in the 
St. Marys and Satilla Rivers, Georgia. The purpose of the proposed 
research is to assess the current status of shortnose sturgeon in these 
rivers, as well as evaluate the current habitat availability in each 
river. If shortnose sturgeon are found, another objective of the 
proposed research would be to quantify the genetic discreteness and 
effective population size of the extant stock. The applicant is 
requesting to capture (by anchored gill or trammel nets), measure, 
weigh, PIT tag, fin clip, and fin ray sample 73 shortnose sturgeon 
annually from each river. Blood samples would be collected from another 
12 fish from each river annually, and internal radio tags would be 
implanted in a total of 10 fish from each river over the life of the 
permit.
    Those fish that have blood collected and internal tags implanted 
would also be anesthetized and have their sex determined using 
laparoscopic procedures. Up to 20 eggs and larvae from each river would 
be collected by egg mats annually. A total of one unintentional 
mortality, for both rivers combined, is being requested each year.

    Dated: February 14, 2008.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-3258 Filed 2-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.