[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74003-74004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30173]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA060


Endangered Species; Permit No. 15677

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that South Carolina Department of 
Natural Resources (hereinafter ``Permit Holder''), P.O. Box 12559 
Charleston, SC 29422 [Responsible Party/Principal Investigator: William 
C. Post] has applied in due form to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser 
brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before December 30, 2010.

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://

[[Page 74004]]

apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/, and then selecting File No. 15677 from the list of 
available applications.
    These documents are available 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, Saint 
Petersburg, Florida 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division.
     By e-mail to [email protected] (include the File 
No. in the subject line)
     By facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or
     At the address listed above.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
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: Malcolm Mohead or Colette Cairns, 
(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).
    The applicant's goal is to assess presence, abundance, and 
distribution of shortnose sturgeon within South Carolina rivers 
(Savannah, Edisto, Cooper, Santee Rivers, Santee-Cooper Lakes, and 
Winyah Bay system). During 2011-2016, up to 134 shortnose sturgeon in 
all South Carolina rivers would be captured using gill nets, trammel 
nets and trawls. Annually, shortnose sturgeon would be taken in good 
condition and measured, weighed, sampled for genetic tissue analysis, 
and PIT tagged. Additionally, selected adults and juveniles would be 
captured, anesthetized, and implanted with an internal sonic 
transmitter. In addition, shortnose sturgeon sex would be determined 
from a sample of fish annually by either laparoscopy or tubular biopsy. 
Blood from known sexes would be collected and processed determining the 
level of endrocrine disrupters in the environment. Manual tracking and 
passive detections of telemetered fish at fixed receiver stations would 
be used to provide information about movements and habitat use. 
Recaptures of tagged fish may also be used for estimating abundance if 
appropriate.

    Dated: November 23, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-30173 Filed 11-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P