[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 109 (Thursday, June 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31568-31569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10948]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA43


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Issuance of a scientific research permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued Permit 1282 to 
Stillwater Sciences (Stillwater) in Arcata, CA. Permit 1282 affects 
threatened species of salmon and steelhead (see SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION). Permit 1282 will more effectively manage the resources of 
the named species and contribute to the support of the species through 
data assessment and consequent actions associated with data collection.

ADDRESSES: The application, permit, and related documents are available 
for review by appointment at: Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 777 
Sonoma Avenue, Room 315, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 (ph: 707-575-6097, fax: 
707-578-3435, e-mail at: [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Jahn at 707-575-6097, or e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    The issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (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 NMFS regulations (50 CFR parts 222-226) 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits.

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to federally threatened Southern Oregon/
Northern California Coast coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), 
endangered Central California Coast coho salmon (O. kisutch), 
threatened California Coastal Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), 
endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), 
threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), 
threatened Northern California steelhead (O. mykiss), threatened 
Central California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss), threatened California 
Central Valley steelhead (O. mykiss), threatened South-Central 
California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss), and endangered Southern 
California steelhead (O. mykiss).

Permit Issued

    A notice of the receipt of an application for a scientific research 
permit (1282) was published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2007 
(72 FR 2658). Permit 1282 was issued to Stillwater on May 1, 2007. 
Permit 1282 authorizes capture (by boat electrofishing, backpack 
electrofishing, beach seine, purse seine, rotary screw trap, pipe-trap, 
fyke-net trap, and trawl), handling, sampling (by collection of scales, 
fin-clips, or stomach contents), and marking (using fin-clips, passive 
integrated transponder (PIT) tags, visible implant elastomer (VIE) 
tags, or acoustic telemetry tags), and release of juvenile Southern 
Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, Central California Coast 
coho salmon, California Coastal Chinook salmon, Sacramento River 
winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, 
Northern California steelhead, Central California Coast steelhead, 
California Central Valley steelhead, South-Central California Coast 
steelhead, and Southern California steelhead. Permit 1282 also 
authorizes capture (by boat electrofishing, backpack electrofishing, or 
beach seine), handling, and release of adult California Central Valley 
steelhead.
    Permit 1282 is for research to be conducted in the following water 
bodies, listed by county, all within the State of California: Tillas 
Slough (Smith River Estuary) and Lake Earl/Lake Tolowa in Del Norte 
County; Stone Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Humboldt Bay, and Eel River estuary/
lagoon in Humboldt County; Ten Mile River estuary/lagoon, Virgin Creek 
estuary/lagoon, Pudding

[[Page 31569]]

Creek estuary/lagoon, and numerous ponds in the vicinity of Manchester, 
California (including Davis Lake, Davis Pond, Hunter's Lagoon, and 
numerous unnamed water bodies in the lower Garcia River flood plain) in 
Mendocino County; Gualala River, Salmon Creek estuary/lagoon, and 
Estero Americano in Sonoma County; Estero de San Antonio, Walker Creek, 
Lagunitas Creek, and Rodeo Lagoon in Marin County; San Gregorio Creek 
estuary/lagoon, Pescadero Lagoon (Pescadero Creek/Butano Creek estuary/
lagoon), and Arroyo de los Frijoles estuary/lagoon in San Mateo County; 
Laguna Creek estuary/lagoon, Baldwin Creek estuary/lagoon, Corcoran 
Lagoon, Aptos Creek estuary/lagoon, and Pajaro River estuary/lagoon in 
Santa Cruz County; Bennett Slough in Monterey County; Santa Paula Creek 
in Ventura County; Cow Creek in Shasta County; Battle Creek in Shasta 
and Tehama counties; Butte Creek in Glenn and Butte counties; Mokelumne 
River in Sacramento and San Joaquin counties; Sherman Island in 
Sacramento County; Napa River in Napa County; Tuolumne River in 
Stanislaus County; and Merced River in Merced County.
    Permit 1282 authorizes average unintentional lethal take of 
juvenile ESA-listed salmonids of approximately 2 percent of ESA-listed 
salmonids captured. Permit 1282 does not authorize lethal take of adult 
ESA-listed salmonids or intentional lethal take of ESA-listed 
salmonids. The purpose of the research is to provide ESA-listed 
salmonid population, distribution, and habitat assessment data which 
will: (1) contribute to the general body of scientific knowledge 
pertaining to ESA-listed salmonids; (2) inform resource managers to 
further the conservation and recovery of ESA-listed salmonids; and (3) 
evaluate the effectiveness of past habitat restoration projects and 
guide future habitat restoration projects to best benefit ESA-listed 
salmonids. Permit 1282 expires on December 31, 2012.

    Dated: May 30, 2007.
Angela Somma
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-10948 Filed 6-6-07; 8:45 am]
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