"The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources, proposes to issue modifications to two scientific research permits for takes of shortnose sturgeon in the wild, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (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). The Permit modifications addressed in this SEA are for Permit No. 1578-00 issued to the Maine Division of Marine Resources (MDMR) in 2006, and Permit No. 1595-03 issued to Michael Hastings of the University of Maine (UM) in 2009. This SEA, therefore, supplements the prior respective EA and SEA, and all other minor permit modifications. Permit No. 1578 currently authorizes research focusing on the location of spawning habitat, feeding habitat, and migratory pathways of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in the Kennebec River, between Augusta and Waterville, Maine. The proposed modification (File 1578-01) would change research objectives, as well as expand the geographic scope of the research, increasing numbers of sturgeon sampled, acoustic tags deployed, and new research methods including: borescoping, Floy anchor tagging, blood collection, gastric lavage, electronarcosis and scute sampling. Permit 1595-03 currently assesses the distribution, abundance, movements and spawning of shortnose sturgeon in the lower Penobscot River and Estuary. The objectives and action area of research would not be changed in the proposed modification (File 1595-04); however, it proposes increased numbers of sturgeon captured, lower water temperatures for sampling adults and juvenile sturgeon, and new research methods including: scute sampling, Floy anchor tagging, fall egg and larvae sampling, electronarcosis and gastric lavage. Both permit modifications would assist researchers in the future development of collaborative research programs in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) determining the number and size of extant populations of shortnose sturgeon in the GOM and the rate of exchange between coastal river systems"--Abstract (p. [1]-2).

"The National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources (NMFS PR) proposes to provide financial assistance in the form of a grant to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) (Matt Roberts, P.I.). This award would be issued through the Protected Species Conservation and Recovery Grant Program (CFDA no. 11.472, Unallied Science Programs) authorized under section 6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 as amended (16 U.S.C. 1535). The federal government would provide 75 percent of the cost of the project, and the state would provide the remaining 25 percent. This financial assistance award is planned to extend for three years (three annual payments) and is subject to semi-annual review by NMFS. The grant would support conservation activities for the threatened Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)"--Page 2.

"NMFS has prepared this Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (Final PEA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate several alternatives for conducting and funding these fisheries and ecosystem research activities as the primary federal action. NMFS is also evaluating in this Final PEA a related action-also called a "connected action" under NEPA (Sec. 1508.25)-which is the proposed promulgation of regulations and authorization of "takes" of marine mammals incidental to the research activities through issuance of Letters of Authorization (LOA) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (see Section 6.3 for detailed discussion). Additionally, because the proposed fisheries and ecological research activities occur in areas inhabited by a number of marine mammals, birds, sea turtles, fishes, and invertebrates listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened or endangered, this Final PEA evaluates activities that could result in unintentional impacts on ESA-listed marine species"--Executive summary (ES-2).

Suspension of Community Eligibility (US Federal Emergency Management Agency Regulation) (FEMA) (2018 Edition) The Law Library presents the complete text of the Suspension of Community Eligibility (US Federal Emergency Management Agency Regulation) (FEMA) (2018 Edition). Updated as of May 29, 2018 This rule identifies communities, where the sale of flood insurance has been authorized under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), that are scheduled for suspension on the effective dates listed within this rule because of noncompliance with the floodplain management requirements of the program. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) receives documentation that the community has adopted the required floodplain management measures prior to the effective suspension date given in this rule, the suspension will not occur and a notice of this will be provided by publication in the Federal Register on a subsequent date. This book contains: - The complete text of the Suspension of Community Eligibility (US Federal Emergency Management Agency Regulation) (FEMA) (2018 Edition) - A table of contents with the page number of each section