Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 11, 2012 / Notices 21753 

Dated: April 6, 2012. 

William D. Chappell, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–8774 Filed 4–10–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA898 

Endangered Species; File Nos. 13599 

and 1614 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit 

modifications. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

National Ocean Service Marine Forensic 

Lab [Responsible Party: Julie Carter], 

219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 

29412 [Permit No. 13599], and the 

NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region 

Protected Resources Division 

[Responsible Party: Mary Colligan], One 

Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 

[Permit No. 1614], have been issued 

modifications to their scientific research 

permits. 

ADDRESSES: The modifications and 

related documents are available for 

review upon written request or by 

appointment in the following offices: 

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; 

Northeast Region, NMFS, One 

Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 

01930–2298; phone (978) 281–9300; fax 

(978) 281–9394; and 

Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th 

Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; 

phone (727) 824–5312; fax (727) 824– 

5309. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jennifer Skidmore or Colette Cairns, 

(301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

December 27, 2011, notice was 

published in the Federal Register (76 

FR 80890) that modifications of Permit 

Nos. 13599 and 1614, had been 

requested by the above-named 

organizations. The requested 

modifications have 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. 13599, issued December 

16, 2008 (73 FR 78724), authorizes the 

permit holder to receive, import, export, 

transfer, archive, and conduct analyses 

of marine mammal and endangered 

species parts. Permit No. 1614, issued 

February 28, 2008 (73 FR 11873), 

authorizes the permit holder to collect, 

receive and transport 100 dead 

shortnose sturgeon, or parts thereof, 

annually. Researchers are also 

authorized the receipt and transport of 

up to 350 captive bred, dead shortnose 

sturgeon annually from any U.S. facility 

authorized to hold captive sturgeon. 

The permit modifications add 

Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus 

oxyrinchus), an ESA-listed species not 

included in the previous permits, for the 

receipt, importation, exportation, and 

transfer of Atlantic sturgeon parts and 

carcasses. No live animal takes or 

incidental harassment of animals is 

authorized under these permits. The 

permit holders are authorized for 

Atlantic sturgeon parts and samples 

would be used to support law 

enforcement actions, research studies 

(primarily genetics), and outreach 

education. Atlantic sturgeon samples 

would be obtained from individuals 

authorized to collect them in the course 

of scientific research, salvage activities, 

or taken during other authorized 

activities. 

Issuance of these modifications, as 

required by the ESA, was based on a 

finding that such modifications (1) were 

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 5, 2012. 

Tammy C. Adams, 

Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–8773 Filed 4–10–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA936 

Marine Mammals; File No. 17011 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a 

permit has been issued to NHK 

Enterprises, Inc., Nature & Science 

Programs, 5–20 Kamiyama-cho, Ogawa 

Bldg., Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan to 

conduct commercial or educational 

photography. 

ADDRESSES: The permit and related 

documents are available for review 

upon written request or by appointment 

in the following offices: 

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; and 

Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 

21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668; phone 

(907) 586–7221; fax (907) 586–7249. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Joselyd Garcia-Reyes or Laura Morse, 

(301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

January 18, 2012, notice was published 

in the Federal Register (77 FR 2513) 

that a request for a permit to conduct 

commercial/educational photography of 

Eastern North Pacific gray whales 

(Eschrichtius robustus) and killer 

whales (Orcinus orca) had been 

submitted by the above-named 

applicant. The requested permit has 

been issued under the authority of the 

Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 

as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and 

the regulations governing the taking and 

importing of marine mammals (50 CFR 

part 216). 

NHK Enterprises, Inc. will film gray 

whale and killer whale interactions in 

the Aleutian Islands from Unimak Pass 

to Sand Point, Alaska using a 100ft boat, 

a 21ft aluminum skiff, and a helicopter. 

Up to 100 gray whales and 300 killer 

whales may be approached and filmed 

during the life of the permit. Species 

that may be incidentally harassed 

during filming activities include: 60 

White-sided dolphins (Lagenorhyncus 

obliquidens), 20 harbor porpoise 

(Phocoena phocoena), 60 harbor seals 

(Phoca vitulina), 40 northern fur seals 

(Callorhinus ursinus), and 40 Dall’s 

porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli). Footage 

would be used to create a film that 

would document the hunting behavior 

of transient killer whales and to 

document the food chain that develops 

from this predation. The permit will 

expire on March 31, 2017. 

In compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final 

determination has been made that the 

activity proposed is categorically 

excluded from the requirement to 

prepare an environmental assessment or 

environmental impact statement. 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
21754 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 11, 2012 / Notices 

Dated: April 4, 2012. 

Tammy C. Adams, 

Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–8610 Filed 4–10–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA713 

Endangered Species; File Nos. 16526, 

16323, 16436, 16422, 16438, 16431, 

16507, 16547, 16375, 16442, 16482, and 

16508 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Issuance of permits. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

twelve applications have been issued 

permits to take Atlantic sturgeon 

(Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) for 

purposes of scientific research. See 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 

additional information regarding 

permittees. 

ADDRESSES: The permits and related 

documents are available for review 

upon written request or by appointment 

in the following offices: 

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; 

Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great 

Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930; 

phone (978) 281–9328; fax (978) 281– 

9394; and 

Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th 

Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida 

33701; phone (727) 824–5312; fax (727) 

824–5309. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Malcolm Mohead or Colette Cairns, 

(301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

September 21, 2011, notice was 

published in the Federal Register (76 

FR 58469) that 12 requests for scientific 

research permits to take Atlantic 

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). 

File No. 16526 The Maine 

Department of Marine Resources, Gail 

Wippelhauser, Ph.D., (Responsible Party 

(RP)), 21 State House Station, Augusta, 

ME 04333, was issued a five-year permit 

to determine the movement patterns and 

rate of exchange between coastal river 

systems in Maine, characterize the 

population structure, and generate 

estimates of population abundance. 

Researchers will capture adult, juvenile, 

and early life stage Atlantic sturgeon. 

Individuals will be measured, weighed, 

photographed, PIT tagged, Floy/T-bar 

tagged, tissue sampled, boroscoped, 

apical spine sampled, blood sampled, 

anesthetized, fin ray sectioned, and be 

implanted with an acoustic telemetry 

tag. 

File No. 16323 The Connecticut 

Department of Environmental Protection 

Marine Fisheries, Tom Savoy (RP), PO 

Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371, was 

issued a five-year permit to monitor 

Atlantic sturgeon populations to 

determine behavior, movement, and 

current status of the species in 

Connecticut waters. Adult and juvenile 

Atlantic sturgeon will be measured, 

weighed, photographed, PIT and Floy/ 

T-bar tagged, genetic tissue sampled, 

anesthetized, and have a fin ray clipped 

for ageing analysis; and a subset will be 

implanted with an internal sonic tag to 

assess movement patterns. 

File No. 16436 The New York State 

Department of Environmental 

Conservation, Kathryn Hattala (RP), 21 

South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 

12561, was issued a five-year permit to 

research Atlantic sturgeon in the 

Hudson River estuary, specifically to 

assess abundance of juveniles, 

characterize the adult spawning stock, 

and generate population estimates. 

Captured Atlantic sturgeon will be 

measured, weighed, PIT and dart tagged, 

tissue sampled, implanted with an 

external telemetry tag, anesthetized, and 

gastric lavaged. 

File No. 16422 Stony Brook 

University, School of Marine and 

Atmospheric Sciences, Michael Frisk 

(RP), Stony Brook, NY 11794–5000, was 

issued a five-year permit to research 

Atlantic sturgeon in the marine and 

estuarine waters of Connecticut, New 

York, New Jersey, and Delaware. To 

characterize Atlantic sturgeon 

aggregations, Atlantic sturgeon will be 

captured, measured, weighed, Carlin/ 

Dart tagged, PIT tagged, anesthetized, 

fin ray sampled, and genetic tissue 

sampled. Some sturgeon will 

additionally be implanted internally 

with a satellite tag, and others will be 

fitted with an external pop-up satellite 

tag. A subset of fish will be gastric 

lavaged, blood sampled, and gill 

biopsied. 

File No. 16438 Environmental 

Research and Consulting, Inc., Hal 

Brundage (RP), 126 Bancroft Road, 

Kennett Square, PA 19348, was issued 

a five-year permit to study juvenile 

Atlantic sturgeon abundance, 

distribution, movement, habitat 

preferences and biology in the Delaware 

River and Bay. Researchers will capture, 

measure, weigh, photograph, PIT and 

Floy tag, and genetic tissue sample 

juvenile Atlantic sturgeon. A subset will 

be anesthetized, gastric lavaged, blood 

sampled, and implanted with an 

internal sonic tag. Early life stage fish 

will also be lethally sampled. 

File No. 16431 The Delaware 

Division of Fish and Wildlife, Stewart 

Michels (RP), 4876 Hay Point Landing 

Road, Smyrna, DE 19977, was issued a 

five-year permit to sample juvenile 

Atlantic sturgeon in the Delaware River 

to locate nursery habitat, and 

characterize population ecology and 

habitat use. Fish will be captured using 

gill nets, measured, weighed, 

photographed, PIT and Floy tagged, 

tissue sampled, anesthetized, gastric 

lavaged, and implanted with an internal 

sonic tag. 

File No. 16507 Dewayne Fox, Ph.D., 

of Delaware State University, 1200 

North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 

19901, was issued a five-year permit to 

sample Atlantic sturgeon in the 

Delaware River and Bay, as well as in 

the coastal waters of Delaware. The 

objectives of this research are to provide 

more detailed information on the 

spawning location of Atlantic sturgeon 

and to develop a fishery independent 

sampling program to help assess 

recovery of the species. Researchers will 

use gill nets to capture adult and 

juvenile Atlantic sturgeon and egg mats 

to capture larval fish. Adult and 

juvenile Atlantic sturgeon will be 

measured, weighed, photographed, PIT 

and Floy tagged, and tissue sampled; a 

subset will be anesthetized, implanted 

with an internal sonic tag, fin ray 

sampled, and gonad tissue sampled. 

File No. 16547 The U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Albert Spells (RP), 

11110 Kimages Road, Charles City, VA 

23030 was issued a five-year permit to 

study Atlantic sturgeon in the 

Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. 

Adult and juvenile Atlantic sturgeon 

will be captured using gill nets, trawls, 

fyke nets, trammel nets, and pound nets, 

and larval fish will be collected using 

egg mats. Adult and juvenile fish will be 

measured, weighed, tissue sampled, PIT 

and Floy tagged, and a subset of fish 

will have an external satellite tag 

attached. 


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