[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65673-65674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26682]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC322


Endangered Species; File No. 16248

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 Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, 
P.O. Box 1060, Columbia, South Carolina 29202 [Jennifer Rawlings, 
Responsible Party], has applied in due form for a permit to hold 
shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for the purposes of 
enhancement.

[[Page 65674]]


DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before November 29, 2012.

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. 16248 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available 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
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. 16248 
in the subject line of the email 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) 427-8401.

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 Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is requesting a permit to continue 
enhancement activities previously authorized under Permit No. 1589. 
Activities would include the care and maintenance of two captive-bred, 
non-releasable shortnose sturgeon. The display 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 project to display endangered 
cultured shortnose sturgeon responds directly to a recommendation from 
the NMFS recovery plan outline for this species. The permit would not 
authorize any takes from the wild, nor would it authorize any release 
of captive sturgeon into the wild. The permit is requested for a 
duration of five years.

    Dated: October 25, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26682 Filed 10-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P