[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38675-38676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13969]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD776


Endangered Species; File No. 19281

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Isaac Wirgin, New York 
University School of Medicine, Department of Environmental Medicine, 57 
Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987, has been issued a permit to import 
and take early life stages of endangered, captive shortnose sturgeon 
(Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead or Rosa L. 
Gonz[aacute]lez, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 18, 2015, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (80 FR 28236) of a request for a permit to import and 
conduct research on shortnose sturgeon early life stages had been 
submitted by the above-named applicant. The requested permit has 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).
    In directed studies with endangered shortnose sturgeon early life 
stages, researchers will define the toxicities of varying 
concentrations of industrial contaminants, such as polychlorinated 
biphenyl (PCB) and Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD). Shortnose sturgeon fertilized 
embryos are authorized to be imported by CITES I permit from the 
Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar, Inc., New

[[Page 38676]]

Brunswick, Canada, to the NOAA Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory in 
Highlands, New Jersey, where the controlled research will take place. 
The laboratory tests will be conducted both singly and in combination 
with 10 temperature regimes and varying levels of dissolved oxygen, 
representing environmental stresses. Surviving progeny will be 
euthanized after tests are completed each year. In subsequent years of 
the five-year permit, the Permit Holder will evaluate the toxic effects 
and sensitivities of shortnose sturgeon to other contaminants.
    Issuance of this permit, 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 such endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: June 8, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-13969 Filed 6-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P