[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2900-2903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-688]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF01


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Receipt of an application for a scientific research permit; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received two applications 
for scientific research permits from the California Department of Fish 
and Game (CDFG), one from CDFG Region 1 and one from CDFG Region 3. The 
permits

[[Page 2901]]

would affect federally threatened Southern Oregon/Northern California 
Coast coho salmon, endangered Central California Coast coho, threatened 
California Coastal Chinook salmon, threatened Northern California 
steelhead, threatened Central California Coast steelhead, threatened 
South-Central California Coast steelhead, and endangered Southern 
California steelhead. This document serves to notify the public of the 
availability of the permit application for review and comment.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on February 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments submitted by e-mail must be sent to the following 
address: [email protected]. The application and related documents 
are available for review by appointment, for Permit 10093: Protected 
Resources Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 315, Santa Rosa, CA 
95404 (ph: 707-575-6097, fax: 707-578-3435).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits, as required by the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on a finding that such 
permits: (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 are issued in 
accordance with and are subject to the ESA and NMFS 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 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), 
threatened Northern California steelhead (O. mykiss), threatened 
Central California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss), threatened South-
Central California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss), and endangered Southern 
California steelhead (O. mykiss).

Applications Received

    CDFG Region 1 requests a 5-year permit (10093) for take of juvenile 
Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, Central 
California Coast coho salmon, California Coastal Chinook salmon, 
Northern California steelhead, Central California Coast steelhead, 
South-Central California Coast steelhead, and Southern California 
steelhead; and adult Central California Coast coho salmon, California 
Coastal Chinook salmon, and Northern California steelhead associated 
with 7 scientific research projects located throughout the California 
Coast.
    Project 1 is a salmonid occurrence and distribution study 
associated with stream habitat inventories and assessments in streams 
within California. Surveys will primarily be conducted in Mendocino 
County, California; however, surveys may also extend throughout the 
entire length of the California Coast. Surveys may also occur in the 
San Luis Rey River located in San Diego County, California. CDFG Region 
1 requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 
400 juvenile Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, 400 
juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 80 juvenile California 
Coastal Chinook salmon, 800 juvenile Northern California Steelhead, 400 
juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, 50 juvenile South-Central 
California Coast steelhead, 40 juvenile Southern California steelhead, 
with no more than 1 percent unintentional mortality resulting from 
capture (by backpack electrofishing), handling and release of fish. 
CDFG Region 1 also requests authorization for an estimated annual non-
lethal take of: 100 juvenile Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast 
coho salmon, 100 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 20 
juvenile California Coastal Chinook salmon, 200 juvenile Northern 
California Steelhead, 100 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, 
10 juvenile South-Central California Coast steelhead, and 10 juvenile 
Southern California steelhead, with no more than 1 percent 
unintentional mortality resulting from capture (by backpack 
electrofishing), handling, anesthetizing, tissue sampling (by fin-
clipping), scale sampling, and release of fish.
    Project 2 is a salmonid study to determine the occurrence and 
distribution of juvenile salmonids associated with stream inventories 
to identify restoration actions needed to remediate factors limiting 
salmonid health and production. Surveys will primarily be conducted in: 
Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties, California; however, 
surveys may also extend throughout the entire length of the California 
Coast. CDFG Region 1 requests the authorization for an estimated non-
lethal take of: 1000 juvenile Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast 
coho salmon, 2000 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 5000 
juvenile Northern California steelhead, 5000 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead, 5000 juvenile South-Central California 
Coast steelhead, 5000 juvenile Southern California steelhead, with no 
more than 2 percent unintentional mortality resulting from capture (by 
backpack electrofishing), handling, and release of fish. CDFG Region 1 
also requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 
1000 juvenile Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, 
2000 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 5000 juvenile 
Northern California steelhead, 5000 juvenile Central California Coast 
steelhead, 5000 juvenile South-Central California Coast steelhead, 5000 
juvenile Southern California steelhead, with no more than 2 percent 
unintentional mortality resulting from capture (by backpack 
electrofishing), tissue sampling (by fin-clipping), scale sampling, 
handling, and release of fish.
    Project 3 is a salmonid study to monitor salmonid response at the 
reach and/or stream level to watershed restoration activities and 
evaluate their effectiveness in remediation factors limiting salmonid 
health and production. Surveys will primarily be conducted in Humboldt 
and Mendocino counties, California; however, surveys may also extend 
throughout the entire length of the California Coast. CDFG Region 1 
requests the authorization of an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 
300 juvenile Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, 600 
juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 600 juvenile California 
Coastal Chinook salmon, 360 juvenile South-Central California Coast 
steelhead, and 360 juvenile Southern California steelhead, with no more 
than 2 percent unintentional mortality resulting from capture (by 
backpack electrofishing), anesthetizing, handling, tissue sampling

[[Page 2902]]

(by fin-clipping), scale sampling, and release of fish. CDFG Region 1 
also requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 
1440 juvenile Northern California steelhead, and 1440 juvenile Southern 
California steelhead, with no more than 0.5 percent unintentional 
mortality resulting from capture (by backpack electrofishing), 
handling, anesthetizing, tissue sampling, scale sampling and release of 
fish; and 1440 juvenile South-Central California Coast steelhead, with 
no more than 0.5 percent unintentional mortality resulting from capture 
(by backpack electrofishing) handling and release of fish. CDFG Region 
1 also requests authorization of an estimated annual non-lethal take 
of: 460 Central California Coast coho salmon carcasses, and 360 
California Coastal Chinook salmon carcasses, with no permanent removal 
from streams resulting from spawning surveys, handling, tissue sampling 
(by fin-clipping), scale sampling, and release of fish carcasses.
    Project 4 is salmonid spawning survey study to determine if adults 
are returning to, and spawning within indexed reaches or basin areas. 
The study consists of multiple spawning surveys primarily located in: 
Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties, California; and surveys 
may also extend throughout the entire length of the California Coast. 
CDFG Region 1 requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal 
take of: 2000 Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon 
carcasses, 4000 Central California Coast coho salmon carcasses, and 
13000 California Coastal Chinook salmon carcasses, with no permanent 
removal from the streams resulting from spawning survey, handling, 
marking (using hog rings), and release of fish carcasses.
    Project 5 is a salmonid population abundance, life history, marine 
and fresh water survival, spawning survey, and restoration 
effectiveness study located within the following Mendocino County, 
California watersheds: Pudding Creek, Noyo River, and Casper Creek. 
CDFG Region 1 also requests that other watersheds in Mendocino County 
may be included during the life of the permit. CDFG Region 1 requests 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 20000 
juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon and 10000 juvenile 
Northern California steelhead, with no more than 2.5 percent 
unintentional mortality resulting from trapping (by fyke-net trap or 
rotary screw trap), handling, and release of fish; and 15000 juvenile 
Central California Coast coho salmon with no more than 1 percent 
unintentional mortality resulting from trapping (by fyke-net trap or 
rotary screw trap), anesthetizing, fin-clipping, tagging (using passive 
integrated transponder (PIT) tags), and release of fish; and 500 
juvenile California Coastal Chinook salmon with less than 0.3 percent 
unintentional mortality resulting from trapping (by fyke-net trap or 
rotary screw trap), anesthetizing, handling, tagging (using PIT tags), 
and release of fish; and 5000 juvenile Northern California steelhead 
with no more than 1.5 percent unintentional mortality resulting from 
trapping (by fyke-net trap or rotary screw trap), anesthetizing, fin-
clipping, tagging (using PIT tags), and release of fish. CDFG Region 1 
also requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 
2000 adult Central California Coast coho salmon, 400 adult Northern 
California steelhead, with less than 1 percent unintentional mortality 
resulting from trapping (by fish ladder trap or weir trap), handling, 
tagging (using Floy tags), and release of fish; and 10 adult California 
Coastal Chinook salmon with less than 1 percent unintentional mortality 
resulting from trapping (by fish ladder trap or weir trap), handling, 
tissue sampling, tagging (using Floy tags), and release of fish. CDFG 
Region 1 also requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal 
take of 1000 Central California Coast coho salmon carcasses, and 50 
Northern California steelhead carcasses, with no permanent removal from 
streams resulting from spawning surveys, handling, tagging, and 
releasing of fish carcasses; and 300 Central California Coast coho 
salmon carcases, 10 California Coastal Chinook salmon carcasses, and 50 
Northern California steelhead carcasses, with no permanent removal from 
streams resulting from spawning surveys, handling, tagging, tissue 
sampling, and releasing of fish.
    Project 6 is a salmonid study to investigate possible straying of 
potential spawning adults and to collect adult census data. The 
proposed surveys will be conducted within the Noyo River watershed, in 
Mendocino County, California. CDFG Region 1 requests the authorization 
for estimated annual non-lethal take of: 700 adult Central California 
Coast coho salmon and 10 adult California Coastal Chinook salmon, with 
no more than 1 percent mortality resulting from capture (by flume type 
raceway trap or finger weir trap), counting, handling, tissue sampling, 
tagging (using Floy tags), and release of fish; and 50 adult Northen 
California steelhead, with no more than 0.5 percent mortality resulting 
from capture (by flume type raceway trap or finger weir trap), 
counting, handling, tissue sampling, tagging (using Floy tags), and 
release of fish.
    Project 7 is a salmonid life history and population study in the 
following coastal water bodies, all located within Northern or Central 
California: Casper Creek, Little River, Pudding Creek, Hollow Tree 
Creek, South Fork Noyo River, Ryan Creek in Mendocino County, and 
Middle Fork Eel River in Humboldt County. CDFG Region 1 requests the 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 12000 
juvenile Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, 11000 
juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 13000 juvenile Northern 
California steelhead, and 1000 juvenile Central California Coast 
steelhead, with no more than 1 percent unintentional mortality 
resulting from capture (by funnel/fyke trap, backpack electrofishing, 
or rotary screw trap), anesthetizing, handling, and releasing of fish. 
CDFG Region 1 also requests authorization for an estimated annual non-
lethal take of: 5000 juvenile Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast 
coho salmon, 5000 juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 5000 
juvenile California Coastal Chinook salmon, and 3000 juvenile Northern 
California steelhead, with no more than 1 percent intentional mortality 
resulting from capture (by funnel/fyke trap, backpack electrofishing, 
or rotary screw trap), handling, anesthetizing, marking (by fin-
clipping) and release of fish; and 200 juvenile Southern Oregon/
Northern California Coast coho salmon; 2100 juvenile Central California 
Coast coho salmon; 100 juvenile California Coastal Chinook salmon; 1500 
juvenile Northern California steelhead, and 500 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead, with no more than 1 percent mortality 
resulting from capture (by funnel/fyke trap, backpack electrofishing, 
or rotary screw trap), handling, anesthetizing, tissue sampling, and 
release of fish. CDFG Region 1 also requests authorization for an 
estimated annual non-lethal take of: 200 Southern Oregon/Northern 
California Coast coho salmon carcasses, and 1000 Central California 
Coast coho salmon carcasses, with no permanent removal from streams 
resulting from spawning surveys, handling, tagging (using hog rings), 
and release of fish; and 200 Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast 
coho salmon carcasses, and 500 Central California Coast coho salmon 
carcasses with no permanent removal from streams resulting from

[[Page 2903]]

handling, tissue sampling (by fin-clipping) and release of fish.
    CDFG Region 3 requests a 5-year permit (10094) for take of juvenile 
and adult Central California Coast coho salmon, California Coastal 
Chinook salmon, Northern California steelhead, Central California Coast 
steelhead, and South-Central California Coast steelhead associated with 
3 scientific research projects located throughout the California Coast.
    Project 1 is a North Bay watershed restoration and resource 
assessment study including investigations of salmonid occurrence and 
distribution, abundance, life history, and adult escapement. Surveys 
will be supervised out of Yountville, California and conducted 
throughout the rivers, streams, and reservoirs in Mendocino, Sonoma, 
Napa and Marin Counties, California. CDFG Region 3 requests 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 2300 juvenile 
Central California Coast coho salmon, with no more than 1 percent 
unintentional mortality resulting from capture (by backpack 
electrofishing or funnel/fyke traps), handling, anesthetizing, and 
release of fish; and 800 juvenile California Coastal Chinook salmon, 
800 juvenile Northern California steelhead, and 7100 juvenile Central 
California Coast steelhead with no more than 2 percent unintentional 
mortality resulting from capture (by backpack electrofishing or funnel/
fyke traps), handling, anesthetizing, and release of fish. CDFG Region 
3 also requests authorization of an estimated annual non-lethal take 
of: 340 adult Central California Coast coho salmon, 140 adult 
California Coastal Chinook salmon, 130 adult Northern California 
steelhead, and 1050 adult Central California Coast steelhead, with no 
more than 1 percent unintentional mortality resulting from capture (by 
Resistance Board weir or fish ladder trap), handling, tissue sampling 
(by fin-clipping or opercular-hole-punching), scale sampling, tagging 
(using Floy tags), and release of fish. CDFG Region 1 also requests 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 100 Central 
California Coast coho salmon carcasses, 100 California Coastal Chinook 
salmon carcasses, 100 Northern California steelhead carcasses, and 100 
Central California Coast steelhead carcasses, with no permanent removal 
from streams resulting from spawning surveys, handling, tissue sampling 
(by fin-clipping), scale sampling, and release of fish carcasses.
    Project 2 is a South Bay watershed restoration and resource 
assessment study including investigations of salmonid occurrence and 
distribution, abundance, life history, and adult escapement. Surveys 
will be supervised out of Yountville, California and conducted 
throughout the rivers, streams, and reservoirs in Monterey, San Luis 
Obispo, San Benito, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, 
Alameda, and Contra Costa counties, California. CDFG Region 3 requests 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 2000 juvenile 
Central California Coast coho salmon, 100 juvenile California Coastal 
Chinook salmon, 16400 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, and 
6200 juvenile South-Central California Coast steelhead, with no more 
than 1 percent unintentional mortality resulting from capture (by 
backpack electrofishing, funnel/fyke traps or beach seining), handling, 
anesthetizing, and release of fish. CDFG Region 3 also requests 
authorization of an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 310 adult 
Central California Coast coho salmon, 10 adult California Coastal 
Chinook salmon, 1060 adult Central California Coast steelhead, and 120 
adult South-Central California Coast steelhead, with no more than 1 
percent unintentional mortality resulting from capture (by Resistance 
Board weir or fish ladder trap), handling, tissue sampling (by fin-
clipping or opercular-hole-punching), scale sampling, tagging (using 
Floy tags), and release of fish. CDFG Region 1 also requests 
authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 100 Central 
California Coast coho salmon carcasses, 100 California Coastal Chinook 
salmon carcasses, 100 Central California Coast steelhead carcasses, and 
100 South-Central California Coast steelhead carcasses, with no 
permanent removal from streams resulting from spawning surveys, 
handling, tissue sampling (by fin-clipping or opercular-hole-punching), 
scale sampling, and release of fish carcasses.
    Project 3 is a Bay Delta Region wild trout assessment study 
including investigations of salmonid abundance, life history, 
occurrence and distribution. Surveys will be supervised out of 
Yountville, California and conducted throughout the rivers, streams, 
and reservoirs in Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, San Mateo, San 
Francisco, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Alameda, Yolo, Solano, Sacramento, 
San Joaquin, and Contra Coast counties, California. CDFG Region 3 
requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of: 100 
juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, 100 juvenile California 
Coastal Chinook salmon, 1000 juvenile Northern California steelhead, 
1000 juvenile Central California Coast steelhead, and 1000 juvenile 
South-Central California Coast steelhead, with no more than 2 percent 
unintentional mortality resulting from capture (by backpack 
electrofishing or hook & line), handling, anesthetizing, and release of 
fish. CDFG Region 3 also requests authorization of an estimated annual 
non-lethal take of: 1 adult Central California Coast coho salmon, 1 
adult California Coastal Chinook salmon, 10 adult Northern California 
steelhead, 10 adult Central California Coast steelhead, and 10 adult 
South-Central California Coast steelhead, with no more than 1 percent 
unintentional mortality resulting from capture (by backpack 
electrofishing or hook & line), handling, tissue sampling (by fin-
clipping), scale sampling, and release of fish.

    Dated: January 11, 2008.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-688 Filed 1-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S