[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 57 (Monday, March 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15482-15483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5901]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG56


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY: NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U. S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of a permit application; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application 
for a permit to conduct research for scientific purposes from Rosi 
Dagit, Senior Conservation Biologist for the Resource Conservation 
District of the Santa Monica Mountains, in southern California. The 
requested permit would affect the Southern California Coast Distinct 
Population Segment of endangered steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). 
The public is hereby notified of the availability of the permit 
application for review and comment before NMFS either approves or 
disapproves the application.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application must be received at 
the appropriate address or fax number on or before April 23, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the permit application should be sent to 
Matt McGoogan, Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., 
Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802. Comments may also be sent using email 
([email protected]) or fax (562-980-4027). The permit application 
is available for review, by appointment only, at the foregoing address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt McGoogan at phone number (562-
980-4026) or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority:

    Issuance of permits, as required by the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531B1543) (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

[[Page 15483]]

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 provide 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.

Permit Application Received

    Rosi Dagit has applied for a permit to conduct a study with the 
Southern California Coast Distinct Population Segment of endangered 
steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in streams emptying to the Santa 
Monica Bay of southern California, with specific focus on Topanga, 
Arroyo Sequit, and Malibu Creeks. The purpose of this study is to use 
monitoring methods to gather information that will contribute to the 
understanding of migration patterns and the abundance and distribution 
of steelhead in Topanga Creek and the Santa Monica Bay streams. 
Monitoring methods include using mask and snorkel as the methods for 
estimating abundance and distribution of juvenile and adult steelhead 
in the streams of Santa Monica Bay including Topanga, Arroyo Sequit, 
and Malibu Creeks. In addition to snorkel surveys, study activities in 
Topanga Creek will also include migratory trapping and Passive 
Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagging. In addition to migratory 
trapping, sampling methods to obtain steelhead for PIT tagging may 
include use of a seine, angling, or electro fishing. Field activities 
related to this study will occur between June 2008 and May 2010. For 
this 2 year study, Rosi Dagit has requested an annual non-lethal take 
of 140 juvenile steelhead (ranging in length up to 250 mm) and 50 adult 
class steelhead (steelhead >250 mm). Of these adult class steelhead, it 
is expected that annually not more than 10 of those 50 would be large 
adults migrating in from the ocean. An annual collection and possession 
of up to 190 steelhead tissue samples is being requested as well as 
permission to recover up to five carcasses per year (if found). All 
samples and carcasses would be sent to NMFS science center for genetic 
research and processing. The unintentional lethal take that may occur 
during trapping, sampling, and PIT tagging activities on Topanga Creek 
is up to six steelhead per year or no more than 3 percent of the total 
captured.

    Dated: March 19, 2008.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-5901 Filed 3-21-08; 8:45 am]
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