[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 94324-94326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30877]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF090


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Applications for four new scientific research permits, two 
permit modifications, and four permit renewals.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received ten scientific 
research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon, 
steelhead, eulachon, and green sturgeon. The proposed research is 
intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management and conservation 
efforts. The applications may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on January 23, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the applications should be sent to the 
Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 1201 NE., Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, 
Portland, OR 97232-1274. Comments may also be sent by email to 
[email protected] (include the permit number in the subject line 
of email).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shivonne Nesbit, Portland, OR (ph.: 
503-231-6741), email: [email protected]). Permit application 
instructions are available from the address above, or online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened California 
Coastal (CC); endangered Sacramento River winter-run (SRWR); threatened 
Central Valley spring-run (CVSR).
    Coho salmon (O. kisutch): threatened Southern Oregon/Northern 
California Coast (SONCC); endangered Central California Coast (CCC).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened Northern California (NC); 
threatened Central California Coast (CCC); threatened California 
Central Valley (CCV); threatened South-Central California Coast (S-
CCC); endangered Southern California (SC).
    North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris): threatened 
southern distinct population segment (sDPS).
    Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus): threatened sDPS.

Authority

    Scientific research permits are issued in accordance with section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 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 that are the subject of the permit; 
and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policy of 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 an 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.

Applications Received

Permit 19820

    Dr. James Hobbs, Professor at the University of California in 
Davis, CA is seeking a five-year research permit to annually take 
juvenile SRWR and CVSR Chinook, CCC and CCV steelhead, and sDPS green 
sturgeon in the San Francisco Bay Area and tributaries. The purpose of 
this research is to determine the degree to which Longfin Smelt use 
tributaries of San Pablo and San Francisco bays as spawning and rearing 
habitat. This information would improve the understanding of how bay 
tributaries contribute to the overall population of Longfin Smelt. 
Although this study principally targets longfin smelt, SRWR and CVSR 
Chinook, CCC and CCV steelhead and sDPS green sturgeon may be 
encountered during sampling. Fish would be captured with beach seines, 
fyke nets, and trawls (otter and Kodiak). Captured fish would be 
identified by species, enumerated, and released. A sub-sample of 30 
individuals per species would be measured. The researchers do not 
propose to kill any fish but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of research activities. This research will enhance the knowledge 
of the distribution of the species in bay tributaries that have not 
been previously monitored.

Permit 17292

    NMFS' Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) is seeking a five-
year research permit to annually take adult and juvenile CC Chinook, 
CCC and SONCC coho, NC, S-CCC, SC and CCC steelhead. Sampling would be 
conducted in California on a variety of coastal salmonid populations. 
The purposes of this study are to: (1) Estimate population abundance 
and dynamics; (2) evaluate factors affecting growth, survival, 
reproduction and life-history patterns; (3) assess life-stage specific 
habitat use and movement; (4) evaluate physiological performance and 
tolerance; (5) determine the genetic structure of populations; (6) 
evaluate the effects of water management and habitat restoration; and 
(7) develop improved sampling and monitoring methods. The SWFSC 
proposes to capture fish using backpack electrofishing, hook and line 
angling, hand and/or dipnets, beach seines, fyke nets, panel, pipe or 
screw traps, and weirs. The SWFSC also proposes to observe adult and 
juvenile salmonids during spawning ground surveys and snorkel surveys. 
Some fish would anesthetized, measured, weighed, tagged (coded wire, 
elastomer, radio, acoustic, passive integrated transponder (PIT) or 
sonic), and tissue sampled for genetics identification. Intentional 
lethal take is proposed to support laboratory experiments using 
hatchery-origin fish whenever possible to examine fish physiology, 
environmental tolerance, and as part of

[[Page 94325]]

field-based research to assess performance, maternal origin (resident 
v. anadromous) and/or life-history and habitat use (freshwater, 
estuarine and marine). The research would benefit the affected species 
by providing critical information in support of the conservation, 
management, and recovery of Coastal California salmon stocks.

Permit 20524

    The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is seeking a one-year 
permit to take juvenile CC, SRWR and CVSR Chinook, CCC coho, CCC, CCV, 
S-CCC, SC steelhead, and sDPS green sturgeon. The goal of the 
California Stream Quality Assessment (CSQA) is to assess the quality of 
streams in California by characterizing multiple water-quality factors 
that are stressors to aquatic life and evaluating the relation between 
these stressors and biological communities. Approximately ninety sites 
would be sampled for up to nine weeks for contaminants, nutrients, and 
sediment in water. Stream-bed sediment would be collected during the 
ecological survey for analysis of sediment chemistry and toxicity. Fish 
would be collected via backpack electrofishing. Captured fish would be 
held in aerated live wells and buckets and would be identified, 
enumerated and released. A subset of non-listed fish from each site 
will be sacrificed for mercury analysis. The researchers do not propose 
to kill any listed fish but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of research activities. This research will benefit listed 
species by providing information about the most critical factors 
affecting stream quality and thus generate insights about possible 
approaches to protecting the health of streams in the region.

Permit 20035

    Stillwater Sciences is seeking a one-year permit to take juvenile 
SONCC coho in the Salmon and Scott River floodplains (California). Fish 
would be captured by beach seine or minnow traps. The study is part of 
a larger comprehensive planning effort that would lead to strategic 
restoration of floodplains and mine tailings in the Salmon and Scott 
rivers. The purpose of this research is to assess mercury contamination 
in fish and invertebrates. Non-listed fish would be collected and 
sacrificed for tissue testing of mercury contamination. The sampling 
has the potential to capture juvenile SONCC coho salmon. As part of 
this project, information would be collected on coho (e.g., locations 
where individuals were observed and/or captured, habitat conditions) 
because this information will help determine the presence and 
distribution of coho--especially in the Salmon River where there is a 
paucity of such data. The researchers do not propose to kill any listed 
fish but a small number may die as an unintended result of research 
activities. The project would benefit listed species by providing data 
on mercury contamination, data that will be used to direct restoration 
efforts.

Permit 17428-2M

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is seeking to modify a 
five-year permit that allows them to annually take juvenile CCV 
steelhead, juvenile SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon, and juvenile sDPS 
green sturgeon at rotary screw traps in the American River in 
Sacramento County, California. The purposes of this study are to: (1) 
Assess population-level abundance, production, condition, survival, and 
outmigration timing of juvenile salmonids; (2) evaluate the 
effectiveness of restoration actions; and (3) generate data that can be 
incorporated into life cycle models. Captured fish would be 
anesthetized, measured, weighed, tagged (acoustic or PIT), have a 
tissue sample taken, allowed to recover, and released. The modification 
is requested because the original permit application underestimated the 
number of CCV steelhead and SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon that would be 
caught in the American River. The FWS is requesting a higher take limit 
and seeking to add green sturgeon because multiple years of trapping 
data suggest the authorized take limit needs to be adjusted. The 
researchers would avoid adult salmonids, but some may be encountered as 
an unintentional result of sampling. The researchers do not expect to 
kill any listed salmonids but a small number may die as an unintended 
result of the research activities. The project would benefit listed 
species by providing data that will be used to infer biological 
responses to ongoing habitat restoration activities, and direct future 
management activities to enhance the abundance, production, and 
survival of juvenile salmon and steelhead in the American River.

Permit 17299-3M

    The SWFSC is seeking to modify a five-year permit that currently 
allows them to annually take juvenile CCV steelhead, juvenile SRWR and 
CVSR Chinook salmon. The sampling would take place in the Sacramento 
River and its tributaries. The purpose of this study is to document the 
survival, movement, habitat use and physiological capacity of Chinook 
salmon and steelhead and their predators in the Sacramento River basin. 
The SWFSC proposes to capture fish using hand and/or dipnets, beach 
seines, hook and line angling, and both backpack and boat-operated 
electrofishing. Captured fish would be anesthetized, tagged (sonic, 
acoustic, or PIT) and released. A subsample would have tissue samples 
taken. The SWFSC proposes to intentionally kill 50 CVSR juvenile 
chinook. From these, the researchers would collect otoliths for age/
growth analysis, organ tissue for isotope, biochemical, and genomic 
expression assays and parasite infections. They would also collect 
stomach contents for diet analysis and tag effects/retention studies. 
Any CVSR fish that are unintentionally killed would be used in place of 
the intentional mortalities.
    The permit would be modified to include (1) boat electroshocking, 
(2) PIT-tagging at screw trap locations in lieu of and/or in addition 
to acoustic tagging, (3) tissue and otolith sampling, and (4) the 
intentional directed mortality discussed above. The research would 
benefit the affected species by providing information to support the 
conservation, restoration, and management of Central Valley salmon 
stocks.

Permit 16531-2R

    FISHBIO Environmental is seeking to renew a five-year research 
permit to take juvenile and adult CCV steelhead and CVSR Chinook in the 
Merced River (California). The purpose of this study is to obtain data 
on the habitat needs of fall-run Chinook and to assess the status of 
steelhead/rainbow trout in the Merced River. Fish would be captured at 
rotary screw traps and passively observed at a resistance board weir 
equipped with an infrared camera and during snorkel surveys. Fish 
captured at the screw traps would be anesthetized, identified by 
species, measured, weighed and released. A sub-sample of juvenile fall-
run Chinook would be marked with a photonic dye to determine trap 
efficiency. Scale samples would be collected from up to 50 juvenile 
fall-run Chinook each week and from a small number of juvenile and 
adult O. mykiss during the season. Although fall-run Chinook are the 
researchers' primary target, they would also collect data rainbow 
trout/steelhead. This research would benefit listed salmon by 
identifying factors that limit fish production in the Merced River.

[[Page 94326]]

Permit 15542-2R

    Normandeau Associates is seeking to renew a five-year research 
permit to take juvenile and adult CCV steelhead in Lower Putah Creek in 
the lower Sacramento Basin (California). The purpose of this study is 
to monitor the distribution and relative abundance of fish populations 
in lower Putah Creek downstream of the Putah Diversion Dam. Fish would 
be captured by backpack and boat electrofishing. Captured fish would be 
identified by species, measured, weighed, allowed to recover, and 
released. The researchers do not expect to kill any listed salmonids 
but a small number may die as an unintended result of the research 
activities. This research would benefit listed steelhead by providing 
information on fish response to river flows and on the distribution and 
diversity of rainbow trout/steelhead in Putah Creek.

Permit 16318-2R

    Hagar Environmental Services is seeking to renew a five-year 
research permit to take juvenile CCC coho, CCC and S-CCC steelhead in 
the San Lorenzo-Soquel and Salinas subbasins. The purpose of this study 
is to assess salmonid habitat, presence, and abundance in order to 
inform watershed management and establish baseline population 
abundances before habitat conservation measures are implemented. The 
researchers would use backpack electrofishing and beach seines to 
capture the fish and would observe them during snorkel surveys. 
Captured fish would be enumerated, measured, and examined. Scale 
samples would be taken from a limited subset of individuals. Some 
salmonids would be PIT-tagged for a mark-recapture abundance estimation 
and to assess movement patterns. Snorkel surveys would be used in place 
of capture whenever possible. The researchers do not expect to kill any 
listed salmonids but a small number may die as an unintended result of 
the research activities. This research would benefit listed species by 
providing population, distribution and habitat data that will be used 
to draft a Habitat Conservation Plan for the City of Santa Cruz.

Permit 10093-2R

    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking to 
renew a five-year permit to take adult and juvenile CC Chinook, CCC and 
SONCC coho, and NC, S-CCC, SC and CCC steelhead. The project goal is to 
restore salmon and steelhead productivity in coastal California streams 
through a comprehensive restoration program. The specific goals of this 
research project are to assess fish abundance and distribution in 
coastal streams. Fish would be captured by backpack electrofishing, 
beach seine, minnow traps, and weirs, and they would be observed during 
snorkel and spawning ground surveys. Some fish would be anesthetized, 
measured, weighed, tagged, and tissue sampled for genetic information. 
The researchers do not expect to kill any listed salmonids but a small 
number may die as an unintended result of the research activities. This 
research would benefit listed species by providing data to assess 
restoration projects and direct future habitat restoration needs.
    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 action 
in the Federal Register.

    Dated: December 19, 2016.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30877 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am]
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