[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20956-20957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9014]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA351


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: 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. The application and related documents may be 
viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm. These documents are also available upon written 
request or by appointment by contacting NMFS by phone (707) 825-5185 or 
fax (707) 825-4840.

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 May 16, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this application should be submitted to 
the Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 1655 Heindon Road, CA 95521. 
Comments may also be submitted via fax to (707) 825-4840 or by e-mail 
to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Ashton, Arcata, CA (ph.: 707-
825-5185, e-mail: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to federally threatened California Southern 
Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon (Oncorhynchus 
kisutch).

Authority

    Scientific research permits are issued in accordance with section 
10(a)(1)(A)

[[Page 20957]]

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 that 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are 
held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NMFS.

Application Received

Permit 16344

    Dr. Jerri Bartholomew, Oregon State University at Corvalis, is 
requesting a 5-year permit to annually take 580 juvenile SONCC coho 
salmon of hatchery origin associated with two research projects to 
study the effects of the myxozoan parasite Ceratomyxa shasta on salmon 
and steelhead in the Klamath River in Northern California. In the two 
projects described below, Dr. Bartholomew and her co-investigators will 
utilize fish obtained from the Iron Gate Hatchery in California, 
transport fish to the John L. Fryer Disease Laboratory in Oregon, and 
will euthanize all individuals at the end of the experiments.
    Project 1 is a study to determine the annual incidence of disease 
in May and June in the Klamath River (Humboldt County), California, 
following a 3-day exposure of individuals at the Beaver Creek and Seiad 
Valley sentinel sites. The study will compare trends in C. shasta 
infection prevalence, fish mortality, and time to death of juvenile 
fish of hatchery origin among years. Annually, Dr. Bartholomew proposes 
to collect, transport, and euthanize 220 juvenile SONCC coho salmon of 
hatchery origin for this project. Data from this study will provide 
information to estimate annual exposure of both wild and hatchery SONCC 
coho salmon to, and subsequent disease effects from, C. shasta among 
years; and to inform potential management actions to reduce infection 
rates.
    Project 2 is a laboratory study to test whether sequential exposure 
of fish to a less virulent (IIR) strain of C. shasta, followed by 
exposure to a more virulent (IIC) strain, lessens disease effects 
(mortality, parasite production) within the juvenile SONCC coho salmon 
host. Annually, Dr. Bartholomew proposes to collect, transport, and 
euthanize 360 juvenile SONCC coho salmon of hatchery origin for this 
project. Data collected from these experiments will be used to inform 
potential disease management strategies for C. shasta in the Klamath 
River.
    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 applications meet 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: April 7, 2011.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-9014 Filed 4-13-11; 8:45 am]
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