[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 19 (Monday, January 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 4897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1110]



[[Page 4897]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011806I]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Issuance of permits 1185, 1280, 1440, and 1452.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has issued permit 1185 to Natural Resource Scientists, 
Inc., permit 1280 to Turlock Irrigation District, permit 1440 to the 
Interagency Ecological Program, and permit 1452 to KDH Environmental 
Services.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the permit may be obtained from the Protected 
Resources Division, NMFS, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 8-300, Sacramento, CA 
95814, or e-mail your request to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosalie del Rosario at phone number 
916-930-3614, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is relevant to federally 
endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha), threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon (O. 
tshawytscha), threatened Central Valley steelhead (O. mykiss), 
threatened Central California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss), and/or 
proposed listed North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris)

Permits

    Permit 1185 was issued to Natural Resource Scientists, Inc. on 
February 4, 2005, authorizing capture (using rotary screw traps) and 
release of ESA-threatened adult and juvenile Central Valley steelhead 
in the Merced River. All lethal take is expected to be unintentional 
and Permit 1185 authorizes unintentional mortality associated with 
research activities not to exceed 5 percent of the captured ESA-listed 
fish (e.g., 1 adult and 1 juvenile Central Valley steelhead). The 
purpose of the study is to provide scientific data on outmigrating 
salmonids in the Merced River and to assess several ongoing fishery 
management programs. Permit 1185 expires on June 30, 2009.
    Permit 1280 was issued to Turlock Irrigation District on September 
15, 2005, authorizing capture (using seines, rotary screw traps, hook-
and-line angling, electrofishing and stranding surveys) and release of 
ESA-threatened adult and juvenile Central Valley steelhead in the lower 
Tuolumne River. All lethal take is expected to be unintentional and 
Permit 1280 authorizes unintentional mortality associated with research 
activities not to exceed 1 percent of the captured ESA-listed fish 
(e.g., 1 adult or 1 juvenile Central Valley steelhead). The purpose of 
the study is to monitor juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon density and 
distribution, steelhead life history, salmonid outmigration patterns, 
and assess predator populations in the lower Tuolumne River. Permit 
1280 expires on December 31, 2010.
    Permit 1440 was issued to the Interagency Ecological Program on 
December 1, 2005, authorizing take of ESA-listed Sacramento River 
winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, 
Central Valley steelhead, Central California Coast steelhead, and 
proposed listed North American green sturgeon, while conducting an 
interagency ecological monitoring program in the San Francisco Estuary, 
which includes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Permit 1440 authorizes 
the Interagency Ecological Program to take listed salmonids to conduct 
15 fisheries-related studies to provide ecological information for use 
in the management of the Estuary. These include long-term monitoring 
projects and short-term projects to study the trends in abundance, 
distribution, and species interactions of resident and anadromous 
fishes and invertebrates. All lethal take is expected to be 
unintentional. From the salmonids that are captured or handled, 
potential lethal take should not exceed more than 8 percent adult and 
10 percent juvenile Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, 9 
percent adult and 7 percent juvenile Central Valley spring-run Chinook 
salmon, 8 percent adult and 3 percent juvenile Central Valley 
steelhead, and 4 percent adult and sub-adult North American green 
sturgeon. No lethal take of Central California Coast steelhead is 
authorized. Permit 1440 expires on June 30, 2015.
    Permit 1452 was issued to KDH Environmental Services on February 
10, 2005, authorizing capture (by hook-and-line fishing) and release of 
ESA-threatened adult Central Valley steelhead in the lower Tuolumne 
River. All lethal take is expected to be unintentional and Permit 1452 
authorizes unintentional mortality associated with research activities 
not to exceed 1 percent of the captured ESA-listed fish (e.g., 4 adult 
Central Valley steelhead). The purpose of the study is to provide 
scientific data on the distribution and abundance of steelhead and 
rainbow trout in the Lower Tuolumne River. This information will be 
used to prepare a biological evaluation on the impacts of the New Don 
Pedro Project on Central Valley steelhead. Permit 1452 expires on 
December 31, 2008.
    NMFS has determined that take levels authorized in the permits will 
not jeopardize listed salmon and steelhead nor result in the 
destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat where 
described.
    NMFS' conditions in the permit will ensure that the take of ESA-
listed anadromous fish will not jeopardize the continued existence of 
the listed species. Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, 
was based on a finding that the permit: (1) was applied for in good 
faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species 
which are the subject of the permit; and (3) is consistent with the 
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. This permit 
was issued in accordance with, and is subject to, 50 CFR part 222, the 
NMFS regulations governing listed species permits.

    Dated: January 24, 2006.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-1110 Filed 1-27-06; 8:45 am]
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