[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 21857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9450]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA374


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 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 
United Water Conservation District (United) in Santa Paula, 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 May 
19, 2011.

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 e-
mail [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 Web site 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. 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 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

    United has applied for a permit (permit 15496) to study steelhead 
in the Santa Clara River watershed. The primary objectives of this 
study are to (1) evaluate smolt migration rates in a highly altered 
channel with a dynamic groundwater and surface water interchange, and 
(2) evaluate the effects of increased water temperature during surface 
flow loss and how this affects migration rates of smolts and the 
ability of smolts to successfully migrate to the ocean. Research 
activities include monitoring streamflow and water temperature, 
capturing smolts in a downstream migrant trap located at United's 
Freeman Diversion, recording weight and length of captured smolts, 
taking tissue (scale and fin clip) samples from each smolt, tagging 
captured smolts with Advanced Telemetry Systems (ATS) tags, and using 
portable and stationary antennas, receivers, and data loggers capable 
of tracking ATS tags to compile smolt movement data. Field activities 
will occur between May 2011 and December 2015. United has requested an 
annual non-lethal take (ATS tag implantation and tissue samples) of up 
to 100 smolts as part of the proposed study. The unintentional lethal 
take that may occur as a result of research activities is up to 3 
smolts annually. Overall, no intentional lethal take of steelhead is 
expected in association with any aspect of these research activities. 
See the permit application for greater details on study description and 
methodology.

    Dated: April 13, 2011.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-9450 Filed 4-18-11; 8:45 am]
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