[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15300-15301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6582]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA306


Endangered Species; File Nos. 16266 and 16291

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 the Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. 
Clyde Morris Boulevard, Newport News, VA, 23602 [Chris Crippen, 
Responsible Party], and the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, 10 North 
Water Street, South Norwalk, CT, 06854 [Ellen Riker, Responsible 
Party], have applied in due form for permits to hold and transport 
shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for the purposes of 
enhancement.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 20, 2011.

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. 16291 or 16266 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following office(s):
    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.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the address 
listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-
0376, or by e-mail to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eea0a3a8bdc0be9cdfad8183838b809a9dae80818f8fc0898198"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f0bebdb6a3dea082c1b39f9d9d959e8483b09e9f9191de979f86">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include the 
File No. 16291 and/or 16266 in the subject line of the e-mail comment.
    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: Colette Cairns or Jennifer Skidmore, 
(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 Virginia Living Museum [File No. 16266] is requesting a permit 
to continue enhancement activities previously authorized under Permit 
No. 1473. Activities would include the continued maintenance and 
educational display of eight captive-bred, non-releaseable adult 
shortnose sturgeon, as well as the transport of four shortnose sturgeon 
to the Maritime Aquarium at Norfolk. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk 
[File No. 16291] is requesting a permit to continue enhancement 
activities previously authorized under Permit No. 1472. Activities 
would include the acquisition of four captive-

[[Page 15301]]

bred, non-releaseable adult shortnose sturgeon from the Virginia Living 
Museum for the maintenance and educational display of those specimens. 
Both displays would be used to increase public awareness of the 
shortnose sturgeon and its status by educating the public on shortnose 
sturgeon life history and the reasons for the species decline. The 
proposed projects to display endangered cultured shortnose sturgeon 
responds directly to a recommendation from the NMFS recovery plan 
outline for this species. The permits would not authorize any takes 
from the wild, nor would it authorize any release of captive sturgeon 
into the wild. The permits are requested for a duration of 5 years.

    Dated: March 15, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6582 Filed 3-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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