Endangered Species; File No. 15614, 31597-31598 [2011-13547]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2011 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES the harvest and possession of goliath grouper from federal waters off North Carolina southward through Florida in November 1990 (SAFMC, 1990). The state of Florida followed suit and prohibited the harvest and possession of goliath grouper from state waters in 1990. Eventually, all other coastal states from North Carolina to Texas implemented regulations to prohibit the harvest or possession of goliath grouper. The petition states the IUCN defines the species as critically endangered throughout its entire range. The IUCN, however, qualifies its assessment by stating, ‘‘Information is needed from other locations within its range, including the eastern Atlantic and eastern Pacific’’ (IUCN, 2006). The IUCN also notes that ‘‘Global or regional abundance of adults is unknown’’ (Ibid). The petition fails to provide substantial information indicating existing regulatory mechanisms are inadequate to prevent, or are contributing to, extinction risk for goliath grouper throughout its range, in a significant portion of the range, or in the continental United States. To the contrary, the petition notes the various harvest restrictions have ‘‘yielded some signs of recovery’’ in the Gulf of Mexico. Available information documents that there has been a history of effective regulatory action to conserve and protect goliath grouper, which has resulted in the species’ ongoing recovery and rebuilding within the continental United States (NOAA, 2006). While Brazil implemented a harvest prohibition in 2002, IUCN (2006) details that ‘‘nothing is known yet about the response to management in Brazil and data are missing on the species from many other places in its range.’’ The petition provides no information supporting the statements of generalized threats posed by the alleged inadequacy of global regulatory measures, and we have no information in our files suggesting that this is an extinction risk of concern. Other Natural or Manmade Factors The petition states that goliath grouper is more susceptible to extinction due to a number of biological constraints, including a ‘‘slow rate of maturation and growth, large size, and aggregation at specific times and sites for spawning, combined with their high commercial value and value as a trophy fish, make them particularly susceptible to depletion from fishers.’’ However, neither the petition nor information in our files suggests that current fishing pressure (i.e., directed catch-and-release or incidental bycatch), including fishing or diving pressure that may potentially VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:48 May 31, 2011 Jkt 223001 disrupt spawning aggregations, poses an extinction risk of concern for this species throughout its range, in a significant portion of the range, or in the continental United States. In fact, available information indicates the U.S. population has increased over the past 20 years and become re-established throughout its historical range (NOAA, 2006). The petition also lists potential small population size of adult goliath grouper and human population growth as other natural or manmade factors contributing to goliath grouper’s vulnerability, but does not provide any supporting information to indicate these generalized concerns are actually negatively affecting goliath grouper. Therefore, we conclude that the petition and information in our files do not present substantial information to suggest that other natural or manmade factors may be causing extinction risk of concern for goliath grouper either throughout or in a significant portion of its range. We further conclude the petition and information in our files do not present substantial information to suggest that any combination of the 4(a)(1) factors discussed above may pose an extinction risk for goliath grouper that is cause for concern. Petition Finding Goliath grouper are found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Bermuda southward through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea to Brazil, in the eastern Atlantic off the African coast, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California south to Peru. As noted by the petitioners, the goliath grouper is widely ranging but is most likely to occur in U.S. waters (Chuen and Huntsman, 2006). The petitioner requests the species be listed throughout its range, or alternatively that the continental U.S. population be listed. The information presented in the petition focuses on the status of the species in the U.S. waters where the petitioner asserts ‘‘* * * it is most threatened by the risk of extinction * * *.’’ However, evidence in the petition and in our files supports the conclusion that the species is recovering in U.S. waters. The petition also fails to either present specific information on how the cited threats are affecting goliath grouper or does not incorporate current data regarding the improved status of the species. After reviewing the information contained in the petition, as well as information readily available in our files, we conclude the petition fails to present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating the petitioned action may be warranted. PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 31597 References Cited A complete list of all references is available upon request from the Protected Resources Division of the NMFS Southeast Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Dated: May 25, 2011. John Oliver, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–13549 Filed 5–31–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA452 Endangered Species; File No. 15614 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Issuance of permit. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that Tom Savoy, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Marine Fisheries, PO Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 06731, has been issued a permit to take shortnose sturgeon for purposes of scientific research. ADDRESSES: The permit 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 • Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930; phone (978) 281–9328; fax (978) 281– 9394. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Cairns or Malcolm Mohead, (301) 713–2289. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 17, 2010, notice was published in the Federal Register (75 FR 78974) that a request for a scientific research permit to take shortnose sturgeon had been submitted by the above-named individual. The requested permit has 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 E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM 01JNN1 31598 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2011 / Notices governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222–226). The applicant is authorized to conduct a five-year scientific study determining biological and life history information on shortnose sturgeon in Connecticut waters, including the Connecticut, Thames, and Housatonic Rivers. The permit authorizes non-lethal sampling with anchored gill nets and trawls, capturing up to 500 fish annually. Each fish will be captured, weighed, measured, passive integrated transponder tagged, and sampled for genetic tissue analysis. Of those 500 fish, 225 will also have a fin ray clipped for ageing analysis, and 100 will undergo gastric lavage. A sub-set of 25 fish will be acoustic tagged internally, released, and tracked, to determine seasonal movement and habitat selection. Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered or threatened species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Dated: May 23, 2011. P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. Air Force Auxilary Field; and proposal 10, Excavating, stockpiling, and using sand and gravel resources on the BMGR East. While no decision has been made for the remaining four proposals at this time, the Air Force anticipates issuing one or more RODs for these independent proposals at a future date. The decision was based on matters discussed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), inputs from the public and regulatory agencies, and other relevant factors. The Final EIS was made available to the public on November, 26, 2010 through a NOA in the Federal Register (Volume 75, Number 227, Page 72824) with a wait period that ended on December 27, 2010. The ROD documents only the decision of the Air Force with respect to the proposed Air Force actions analyzed in the Final EIS. Authority: This NOA is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR part 1506.6) implementing the provisions of the NEPA of 1969 (42 USC. 4321, et seq.) and the Air Force’s Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) (32 CFR Parts 989.21(b) and 989.24(b)(7)). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa McCarrick, 56 RMO/ESMP 7224 N 139th Dr, Bldg 302, Luke AFB, AZ 85309, 623–856–9475. Bao-Anh Trinh, Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2011–13547 Filed 5–31–11; 8:45 am] [FR Doc. 2011–13459 Filed 5–31–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P BILLING CODE 5001–10–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Department of the Air Force Agency Information Collection Extension Record of Decision for the Barry M. Goldwater Range East Range Enhancements Final Environmental Impact Statement U.S. Department of Energy. Submission for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review; comment request. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Record of Decision (ROD). ACTION: On May 20, 2011, the United States Air Force signed the ROD for the Barry M. Goldwater Range East Range Enhancements Final Environmental Impact Statement. The ROD states the Air Force decision to implement six of the 10 proposals analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement. These six proposals include: Proposal 1, Developing a sensor training area; Proposal 4, developing a new target for live air to-to-ground missiles within the East tactical range; Proposal 6, Converting a portion of Manned Range 3 into a helicopter gunnery range; Proposal 8, constructing a new taxiway and air traffic control tower at Gila Bend mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:48 May 31, 2011 Jkt 223001 The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted an information collection request to the OMB for extension under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection requests a threeyear extension of its Printing and Publishing Activities, OMB Control Number 1910–0100. The proposed collection of this data is a Congressional Joint Committee on Printing requirement: The Department reports on information gathered and compiled from its facilities nation-wide on the usage of in-house printing and duplicating activities as well as all printing production from external Government Printing Office (GPO) and GPO vendors. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 Comments regarding this collection must be received on or before July 1, 2011. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, please advise the OMB Desk Officer of your intention to make a submission as soon as possible. The Desk Officer may be telephoned at 202–395–4650. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the DOE Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10102, 735 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503 and to: Dallas Woodruff, U.S. Department of Energy, Lead Printing Specialist, MA– 42, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585, or by fax at (202) 586–5460 or by e-mail at dallas.woodruff@hq.doe.gov. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dallas Woodruff at the address listed above. This information collection request contains: (1) OMB No. 1910–0100; (2) Information Collection Request Title: Department of Energy Printing and Printing and Publishing Activities; (3) Type of Request: Renewal; (4) Purpose: Collection of this data is a Congressional Joint Committee on Printing requirement: The Department reports on information gathered and compiled from its facilities nation-wide on the usage of in-house printing and duplicating activities as well as all printing production from external Government Printing Office (GPO) and GPO vendors; (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 160; (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 800; (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 1,570; (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: No costs associated with record keeping. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Statutory Authority: This information is reported to the congressional Joint Committee on Printing pursuant to its regulations. Joint Committee on Printing, Government Printing and Binding Regulations, Title IV, Rules 48–55 (Feb. 1990), in S. Pub. No. 109–21, 101st Cong., 2d Sess., at 27–29 (1990). Issued in Washington, DC, on May 24, 2011. Dallas Woodruff, Team Lead Printing Specialist, Office of Administrative Management and Support, Printing Team. [FR Doc. 2011–13508 Filed 5–31–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM 01JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31597-31598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13547]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA452


Endangered Species; File No. 15614

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Tom Savoy, Connecticut Department 
of Environmental Protection, Marine Fisheries, PO Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 
06731, has been issued a permit to take shortnose sturgeon for purposes 
of scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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
     Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930; phone (978) 281-9328; fax (978) 281-9394.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 17, 2010, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (75 FR 78974) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take shortnose sturgeon had been submitted by the 
above-named individual. The requested permit has 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

[[Page 31598]]

governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and 
threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    The applicant is authorized to conduct a five-year scientific study 
determining biological and life history information on shortnose 
sturgeon in Connecticut waters, including the Connecticut, Thames, and 
Housatonic Rivers. The permit authorizes non-lethal sampling with 
anchored gill nets and trawls, capturing up to 500 fish annually. Each 
fish will be captured, weighed, measured, passive integrated 
transponder tagged, and sampled for genetic tissue analysis. Of those 
500 fish, 225 will also have a fin ray clipped for ageing analysis, and 
100 will undergo gastric lavage. A sub-set of 25 fish will be acoustic 
tagged internally, released, and tracked, to determine seasonal 
movement and habitat selection.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: May 23, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-13547 Filed 5-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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