Endangered Species; Permit Nos. 17861, 19641, 20314, 20340, 20347, 20351, 20528, 20548, and 20651, 16996-16997 [2017-07000]
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16996
ACTION:
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 66 / Friday, April 7, 2017 / Notices
Notice; receipt of application.
Notice is hereby given that
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
(ADF&G), Division of Wildlife
Conservation, Juneau, AK (Responsible
Party: Robert Small, Ph.D.), has applied
in due form for a permit to conduct
research on ice seals in Alaska.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
comments must be received on or before
May 8, 2017.
ADDRESSES: The application 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. 20466 from the list of
available applications.
These documents are also available
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.
Written comments on this application
should be submitted to the Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division, at
the address listed above. Comments may
also be submitted by facsimile to (301)
713–0376, or by email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please
include the File No. in the subject line
of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public
hearing should submit a written request
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation
Division at the address listed above. The
request should set forth the specific
reasons why a hearing on this
application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara
Young or Amy Sloan, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject permit is requested under the
authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the
regulations governing the taking and
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
part 216).
The applicant requests a five-year
permit to conduct scientific research on
spotted (Phoca largha), ringed (Phoca
hispida), bearded (Erignathus barbatus),
and ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata) seals
in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort
seas of Alaska. The purpose of this
research is to monitor the status and
health of all four species by analyzing
samples from the subsistence harvest
and by documenting movements and
habitat use by tracking animals with
satellite transmitters. In addition to
sampling harvested seals, the applicant
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SUMMARY:
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would capture up to 200 individuals of
each species per year. Captured seals
would be measured, sampled (e.g.,
blood, blubber, skin, muscle, and
whisker), and fitted with transmitters.
The applicant also requests permission
to harass non-target seals of each species
as well as beluga whales, and
authorization for a limited number of
research-related mortalities. Results of
these studies would be used to monitor
the health and status of each of the four
species’ populations, improve
population assessments, and develop
mitigation measures to minimize
disturbance to these species that are
important to the indigenous people of
Alaska for subsistence food, materials,
and for cultural significance. Samples
would be imported from Russia,
Canada, Svalbard (Norway) and
exported to Canada for analyses.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial
determination has been made that the
activity proposed is categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
Concurrent with the publication of
this notice in the Federal Register,
NMFS is forwarding copies of the
application to the Marine Mammal
Commission and its Committee of
Scientific Advisors.
Dated: April 3, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–06943 Filed 4–6–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits.
AGENCY:
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.
SUMMARY:
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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,
ADDRESSES:
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07APN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 66 / Friday, April 7, 2017 / Notices
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
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14:52 Apr 06, 2017
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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 10years 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,
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16997
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
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07APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16996-16997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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
