[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 134 (Thursday, July 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41167-41168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17055]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC104


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Issuance of two scientific research permits.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued Permit 16110 to 
Marin Municipal Water District and Permit 15730 to Salmon Protection 
and Watershed Network.

ADDRESSES: The approved application for each permit is available on the 
Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov Web site by searching the permit number within the 
Search Database page. The applications, issued permits and supporting 
documents are also available upon written request or by appointment: 
Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa 
Rosa, CA 95404 (ph: (707) 575-6097, fax: (707) 578-3435).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Jahn at 707-575-6097, or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    The issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is 
based on a finding that such permits/modifications: (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 and modifications are issued in accordance with 
and are subject to the ESA and NMFS regulations (50 CFR parts 222-226) 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits.

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to federally endangered Central California 
Coast coho salmon (Oncorhyncus kisutch), threatened Central California 
Coast steelhead (O. mykiss), and threatened California Coastal Chinook 
Salmon (O. tshawytscha).

Permits Issued

Permit 16110

    A notice of the receipt of an application for a scientific research 
permit renewal (16110) was published in the Federal Register on June 1, 
2011 (76 FR 31590). Permit 16110 was issued to the Marin Municipal 
Water District on June 5, 2012 and expires on June 30, 2017.
    Permit 16110 is for research to be conducted in the Lagunitas Creek 
and Walker Creek watersheds in Marin County, California. The main 
purpose of the research is to conduct habitat assessments, biological 
inventories, and monitor salmon populations in these watersheds. Permit 
16110 authorizes capturing (backpack electrofishing, trapping), 
observing (snorkel surveys), anesthetizing, handling (measuring), 
tissue sampling, and release of juvenile Central California Coast (CCC) 
coho salmon, Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead, and California 
Coastal (CC) Chinook Salmon, henceforth referred to as ESA-listed 
salmonids.
    Permit 11610 authorizes non-lethal take and low levels of 
unintentional lethal take of juvenile ESA-listed salmonids, as well as 
adult carcasses of these species. Permit 16110 does not authorize any 
lethal take of adult ESA-listed salmonids.

Permit 15730

    A notice of the receipt of an application for a scientific research 
and enhancement permit renewal (15730) was published in the Federal 
Register on June 1, 2011 (76 FR 31590). Permit 15730 was issued to the 
Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN) on June 5, 2012, and 
expires on June 30, 2017.
    Permit 15730 is for research to be conducted in Lagunitas Creek in 
Marin County, CA. The primary objectives to which ESA-listed salmonids 
may be taken are to provide baseline data on salmonid presence, habitat 
use, and abundance in study watersheds and to rescue and relocate 
stranded juvenile salmonids. Take activities associated with research 
on juvenile steelhead include the following: capture (backpack 
electrofishing), observing (spawner surveys), anesthetizing, scale and 
tissue sampling, tagging (Passive

[[Page 41168]]

Integrated Transponder tags), trapping (pipe traps), and release of 
fish. Permit 15730 authorizes SPAWN non-lethal and low levels of 
unintentional lethal take of juvenile ESA-listed salmonids and take of 
adult carcasses of these species. Permit 15730 does not authorize any 
intentional lethal take of ESA-listed salmonids or lethal or non-lethal 
take of live adult salmonids.

    Dated: July 9, 2012.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-17055 Filed 7-11-12; 8:45 am]
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