[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15946-15947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6731]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA308


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 new scientific research permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a scientific 
research permit application request relating to salmonids listed under 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed research is intended to 
increase knowledge of the species and to help guide management and 
conservation efforts. These documents are also available upon written 
request or by appointment by contacting NMFS by phone (707) 575-6097 or 
fax (707) 578-3435.

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. Pacific standard time on April 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this application should be submitted to 
the Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, 
Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Comments may also be submitted via fax to (707) 
578-3435 or by e-mail to [email protected].
    The application and related documents may be viewed online at: 
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Jahn, Santa Rosa, CA (ph.: 
707-575-6097, e-mail.: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to federally threatened Central California 
Coast (CCC) steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Authority

    Scientific research permits are issued in accordance with section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and regulations 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226). NMFS 
issues permits based on findings that such permits: (1) Are applied for 
in good faith; (2) if granted and exercised, 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. The authority to take listed species is 
subject to conditions set forth in the permits.
    Anyone requesting a hearing on the application listed in this 
notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on this 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are 
held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NMFS.

Application Received

    URS Corporation in Oakland, CA, is requesting a 5-year scientific 
research permit (Permit 16115) to take juvenile CCC steelhead 
associated with a research project in the Guadalupe River watershed in 
Santa Clara County, CA. In the study described below, researchers do 
not expect to kill any listed fish but a small number may die as an 
unintended result of the research activities.
    The purpose of the research program is to collect warmwater fish 
species to analyze individuals for total mercury content, and to obtain 
information on CCC steelhead presence. Target species include adult 
California roach (Lavinia symmetricus) and young of the year largemouth 
bass (Micropterus salmoides). CCC steelhead captured during sampling 
will be placed in an aerated bucket, enumerated, measured and released 
at the point of capture; no samples will be taken of CCC steelhead. 
Locations and habitat conditions in areas that CCC steelhead are 
captured will be noted.
    Sampling will occur once annually in 2011, 2012, and 2016; sample 
collection will take place between May 1 and June 30, depending on 
seasonal weather patterns and permit conditions. Fish will be collected 
by backpack electrofisher at five stream sampling sites. Captured 
unlisted warmwater fish will be analyzed for total mercury content to 
assess the success of Total Maximum Daily Load implementation efforts. 
URS Corporation will also be conducting boat electrofishing in 
reservoirs that do not contain ESA-listed anadromous fish and therefore 
take of CCC steelhead is not expected as a result of this collection 
method.

[[Page 15947]]

    The program will satisfy the Regional Water Quality Control Board 
requirement to monitor mercury in waters downstream of historic 
quicksilver mines in the Guadalupe River watershed. Increased 
information regarding CCC steelhead habitat use and preference and 
proper management of mercury loads in this watershed are benefits 
associated with this research program.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments 
submitted to determine whether the application meets the requirements 
of section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit 
decision will not be made until after the end of the 30-day comment 
period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: March 16, 2011.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6731 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
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