[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 55 (Thursday, March 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17355-17356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06482]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC568


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 
(16506) and notice of withdrawal of a scientific research permit 
application (16128).

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[[Page 17356]]

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 permit 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) 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 22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on either 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 email to [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to federally threatened Central California 
Coast steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), endangered Central California 
Coast coho salmon (O. kisutch), threatened California Coastal Chinook 
salmon (O. tshawytscha), threatened Southern Oregon/Northern California 
coho salmon (O. kisutch), and threatened Northern California steelhead 
(O. 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 the 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are 
held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NMFS.

Application Received

Permit 16506

    Michael Podlech (Aquatic Ecologist) is requesting a 5-year 
scientific research permit to take juvenile, smolt and adult Central 
California Coast (CCC) steelhead and juvenile, smolt and adult CCC coho 
salmon, (ESA-listed salmonids) associated with two research studies 
within Sonoma and San Mateo counties in California. In the studies 
described below, the researcher does not expect to kill any listed fish 
but a small number may die as an unintended result of the research 
activities.
    These projects are part of an ongoing effort to monitor population 
status and trends of ESA-listed salmonids within Squaw Creek (Sonoma 
County) and Pescadero Creek (San Mateo County). The objectives are to: 
(1) Monitor salmonid smolt outmigration, (2) determine summer juvenile 
rearing, (3) assess whether previous NMFS CCC coho salmon broodstock 
releases have resulted in wild progeny, and (4) gather population data 
to inform ongoing watershed restoration and salmonid recovery efforts 
in Pescadero Creek. In these projects, ESA-listed salmonids will be 
captured (electrofishing and fyke-net), anesthetized, handled 
(identified, measured, weighed), a subset of these captured fish will 
be fin-clipped (marked), tissue sampled (fin-clip), scale sampled, and 
released. All data and information will be shared with county, state, 
and federal entities for use in conservation and restoration planning 
efforts related to ESA-listed salmonids.
    Study 1 is a CCC steelhead population monitoring study in Squaw 
Creek, this watershed has been developed for geothermal power 
production by the Calpine Corporation, but is otherwise pristine. The 
Squaw Creek Aquatic Monitoring Program (SCAMP), initiated in 1984 to 
track the population dynamics in this Sonoma County watershed. A Smith 
and Root backpack electrofisher will be used annually from August 15-
September 15 for two to three days of sampling. Electroshocked juvenile 
CCC steelhead will be handled minimally and released back into the 
habitat they were captured.
    Study 2 will monitor the CCC steelhead and CCC coho salmon 
population trends in Pescadero Creek, San Mateo County. A fyke net trap 
will be placed in the main channel of Pescadero Creek within a reach 
extending from the upper limit of tidal influence upstream for 
approximately 0.5 mile. The trap will be set to fish from March 1 
through June 15 on a four days a week schedule. Adult and smolt 
salmonids will be captured (fyke net), anesthetized, and handled. A 
subset of these captured fish will be fin-clipped (marked), tissue 
sampled (fin-clip), and scale sampled.

Permit 16128 Application Withdrawn

    NMFS has received notice from the United State Geological Survey 
(USGS) California Cooperative Fish Research Unit at Humboldt State 
University to withdraw its application for a permit for take of ESA-
listed species associated with scientific research. Notice was 
published on April 19, 2011 (76 FR 21857) that USGS applied for a 
scientific research permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. The 
permit requested take of adult, smolt, and juvenile threatened Southern 
Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon; adult, smolt, and 
juvenile threatened California Coastal (CC) Chinook salmon; and adult, 
smolt, and juvenile threatened Northern California (NC) steelhead. 
Associated with three routine fish distribution and monitoring research 
projects. During the permit process the applicant decided to 
collaborate with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife 
(Department), and include these three projects in 4(d) research 
applications annually renewed by the Department for research and 
monitoring in the Redwood Creek watershed. The applicant will be 
gradually turning over these long term projects to the Department to 
carry on the research and monitoring after the applicant's retirement. 
The applicant requested this withdrawal via email on June 12, 2012 and 
the permit application was withdrawn on June 13, 2012.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the applications, 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 
decisions will not be made until after the end of the 30-day comment 
period. NMFS will publish notice of its final actions in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: March 18, 2013.
Helen Golde,
Acting Office Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-06482 Filed 3-20-13; 8:45 am]
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