[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25205-25206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10856]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XW33


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 the 
Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCD), in 
southern California. The requested permit would affect the endangered 
Southern California (SC) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead 
(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 (see ADDRESSES) on or before June 
7, 2010.

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, California 90802. Comments may also be 
sent using email ([email protected]) or fax (562.980.4027). The 
permit application is available for review, by appointment, at the 
foregoing address and is also available for review online at the 
Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species website at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

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 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 222B226).
    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

    The RCD has applied for a permit (permit 15390) to study the 
endangered SC DPS of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in streams 
emptying to the Santa Monica Bay of southern California, with specific 
focus on Topanga Creek, Arroyo Sequit, and Malibu Creek. The purpose of 
this study is to use monitoring methods to gather information that will 
contribute to the understanding of migration patterns, diet, and the 
abundance and distribution of steelhead in the subject streams. 
Monitoring methods include using direct underwater observation 
techniques for estimating abundance and distribution of steelhead, 
migratory trapping, and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagging. 
Sampling methods to obtain steelhead for abundance counts and PIT 
tagging may include hand nets, seine nets, angling, fyke traps, and 
electrofishing. Field activities will occur between June 2010 and 
December 2020. The RCD has requested an annual non-lethal take of 1150 
juvenile steelhead, 100 smolts, and 10 adult steelhead as well as an 
annual collection and possession of up to 950 steelhead tissue samples 
and 10 steelhead carcasses. The 100 smolts and up to 850 juvenile 
steelhead (depending on size) could be processed for PIT tags. Adult 
steelhead may be captured in fyke traps, but will be released without 
being PIT tagged. Gastric lavage would be

[[Page 25206]]

performed on up to 30 juvenile steelhead to gather information on 
feeding habits and diet. The unintentional lethal take that may occur 
as a result of research activities on Topanga and Malibu creeks is up 
to 36 juvenile steelhead annually. No lethal take of adult steelhead is 
expected or authorized with this research permit.

    Dated: May 4, 2010.
Therese Conant,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-10856 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
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