Environmental Assessment Issuance of a Protected Species Cooperative Conservation Grant to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (Award No. NA10NMF4720036) to Conduct Research on Atlantic Sturgeon and Shortnose Sturgeon.

摘要

The National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources (NMFS PR) proposes to provide financial assistance in the form of a grant to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). This award would be issued through the Protected Species Cooperative Conservation 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 award would be for three years (1 July 2010 30 June 2013). South Carolina DNR would be partnering with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF), North Carolina State University, and the University of Georgia (UGA) to complete the proposed work. Because the partnership includes another state government (NC), and in accordance with section 6(d)(2) of the ESA, the Federal Government would provide 90 percent of the cost of the project, and the states would provide the remaining 10 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 monitoring activities for Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), a candidate for listing under the ESA, and conservation actions for the endangered shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.