[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 21753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8773]


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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.

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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]
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