Endangered Species; Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082198B]

Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of an application for a scientific research permits

(1176) and for a modifications to a scientific research permit (944).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding

permits for takes of endangered and threatened species for the purposes

of scientific research and/or enhancement: NMFS has received a permit

application from Mr. W. Coleman Long, Chief of US Army Corps of

Engineers, Wilmington (COE)(1176); and NMFS has received an application

for a modification to an existing permit from Dr. Boyd Kynard, Section

Leader, Fish Behavior of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)(944).

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the

applications must be received on or before September 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for

review in the following offices, by appointment:

For permit 1176: Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, 9721

Executive Center Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813-893-3141).

For permit 944: Director, Northeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, One

Blackburn Drive, Glouster, MA, 01930-2298 (978-281-9250).

All documents may also be reviewed by appointment in the Office of

Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver

Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Jordan, Endangered Species

Division, Silver Spring, MD (301-713-1401).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

Permits are requested under the authority of section 10 of the

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and the NMFS

regulations governing ESA-listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR

parts 217-227).

Those individuals requesting a hearing on these requests for

permits should set out the specific reasons why a hearing would be

appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such a hearing is at the

discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA. All

statements and opinions contained in the below application summaries

are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of

NMFS.

New Application Received

COE (1176) has requested a 1-year permit to use hatchery bred

shortnose sturgeon, (Acipenser brevirostrum), to test the potential

impacts of deepening Wilmington harbor in North Carolina. The applicant

proposes to place hatchery raised sturgeon in wire cages below the

surface and subject them to a series of tests blasts to determine the

effect that the harbor deepening will have on wild sturgeon in the

harbor. During the test blasting, additional protective measures will

be taken to prevent wild sturgeon from being affected - these measures

include: relocation of any wild sturgeon found to be in the area prior

to the blasts and air bubble curtains. Due to contract awards schedule,

the test blast schedule would likely begin in December of 1998 and may

continue through January, 1999.

Modification Request Received

USGS requests a modification to permit #944, which would grant

permission to relocate endangered shortnose sturgeon located below

Holyoke Dam, Massachusetts, above the dam and to modify the technique

currently being used for tagging shortnose sturgeon to an IE tag placed

internally with the antennae extending through the body wall.

Dated: August 24, 1998.

Kevin Collins,

Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98-23358 Filed 8-28-98; 8:45 am]

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