[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 93 (Monday, May 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27994-27995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7363]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 050406B]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for renewal; modification of scientific 
research/enhancement permit (1093); request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received applications to 
renew and modify permits from U. S. Geological Survey, Arcata, CA 
(Permit 1093). This permit would affect Southern Oregon/Northern 
California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Central 
California Coast (CCC) coho salmon, Northern California (NC) steelhead 
(O. mykiss), and California Coastal (CC) Chinook salmon (O. 
tshawytscha). This document serves to notify the public of the 
availability of the permit application for review and comment before a 
final approval or disapproval is made by NMFS.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application must be received at 
the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 
p.m. Daylight Savings Time on June 14, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on any of these renewal and modification 
request should be sent to the appropriate office as indicated below. 
Comments may also be sent via fax to the number indicated for the 
request. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the 
internet. The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the indicated office, by appointment: For Permit 1093: Steve 
Liebhardt, Protected Species Division, NOAA Fisheries, 1655 Heindon 
Road, Arcata, CA 95521 (ph: 707-825-5186, fax: 707-825-4840).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Liebhardt at phone number 
(707B825B5186), or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531B1543) (ESA), is based on 
a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) Are applied for in good 
faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species 
which are the subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the 
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to 
take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits. 
Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject 
to the ESA and NOAA Fisheries regulations governing listed fish and 
wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on an application listed in 
this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such a 
hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the permit 
action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of NMFS.

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to the following four threatened salmonid 
ESUs: Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon 
(Oncorhynchus kisutch), Central California Coast (CCC) coho salmon, 
Northern California (NC) steelhead (O. mykiss), and California Coastal 
(CC) Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha).

Renewal and Requests Received

Permit 1093

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has requested the renewal and 
modification 2 of Permit 1093 for take of SONCC coho salmon, CCC coho 
salmon, NC steelhead, and CC Chinook salmon, associated with five 
studies. The USGS proposes to capture juvenile salmon and steelhead by 
electrofishing. Permit 1068 was originally issued on April 1, 1998. 
That permit expired on June 30, 2003. NMFS placed the USGS on the 
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) 4d list for scientific 
research to cover the USGS for anticipated take of listed salmonids. 
However, because CCC coho salmon are listed as endangered and because 
the USGS would conduct research on CCC coho salmon, they could not be 
covered for take of CCC coho salmon under the 4d list. Therefore, NMFS 
is renewing and modifying Permit 1093 for a second

[[Page 27995]]

time to cover anticipated take of CCC coho salmon. USGS has requested 
lethal take of up to: 1,900 juvenile SONCC coho salmon, 300 juvenile 
CCC coho salmon, 3,050 juvenile NC steelhead, and 1,200 juvenile CC 
Chinook salmon. The five studies would involve using listed salmonids 
caught by electrofishing to continue research on the demographics of 
coho salmon, investigate the influence of non-native fish species on 
food webs, develop protocols for measuring a biological response to 
watershed restoration, and investigate the response of steelhead to 
fire in coastal watersheds.
    Renewal and Modification 2 of Permit 1093 will expire on January 1, 
2011.
    The USGS has requested renewal and modification 2 of Permit 1093 
for take of SONCC coho salmon, CCC coho salmon, NC steelhead, and CC 
Chinook salmon associated with studies to continue research on the 
demographics of coho salmon, investigate the influence of non-native 
fish species on food webs, develop protocols for measuring a biological 
response to watershed restoration, and investigate the response of 
steelhead to fire in coastal watersheds. Proposed capture methods are 
by electrofishing. NMFS placed the USGS on the California Department of 
Fish and Game (CDFG) 4d list for scientific research to cover the USGS 
for anticipated take of listed salmonids on December 28, 2005. The USGS 
has requested non-lethal take of up to 1,900 juvenile SONCC coho 
salmon, 300 juvenile CCC coho salmon, 3,050 juvenile NC steelhead, and 
1,200 juvenile CC Chinook salmon. Renewal and Modification of Permit 
1093 will expire January 1, 2011.

    Dated: May 9, 2006.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-7363 Filed 5-12-06; 8:45 am]
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