[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72180-72181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27270]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 050304A]


Endangered Species; File No.1375

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Thomas J. Kwak, U.S. 
Geological Survey has been issued a modification to scientific research 
Permit No. 1375.

ADDRESSES: The modification and related documents are available for 
review 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
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Jefferies (301)713-2289.

[[Page 72181]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 12, 2003, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (68 FR 69388) that an modification of Permit 
No. 1375, issued March 27, 2003 (68 FR 16002), had been requested by 
the above-named individual. The requested modification has been granted 
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).
    Permit No. 1375 authorized the permit holder to deploy 1,000 
hatchery-reared juvenile shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in 
cages at 10 test sites within the Roanoke/Albemarle River system for 28 
days. Afterwards the fish will be euthanized and their tissue analyzed 
for contaminants. The results of this study will provide needed 
information to determine if water quality is a factor limiting the 
ecological success of shortnose sturgeon in this river system. When the 
initial study was conducted, however, high water temperatures and low 
dissolved oxygen contributed to a shortened experiment time. With the 
issuance of this modification the permit holder will be authorized to 
obtain an additional 1000 fish to repeat the experiment in more 
favorable conditions. The modification will also extend the expiration 
date until December 31, 2005.
    Issuance of this modification, 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 the endangered species which is the 
subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: December 8, 2004.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-27270 Filed 12-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S