[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2492-2493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01375]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG693


Endangered Species; Take of Steelhead

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt for one application to renew a scientific 
enhancement permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS received an application from 
NMFS' California Coastal Office in Long Beach, California to renew 
their U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) scientific enhancement permit 
(permit 14159-2R). The purpose of this permit is to enhance the 
survival of the endangered Southern California Distinct Population 
Segment of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through rescue and 
relocation of at-risk steelhead, ecological research, and invasive 
species management. The public is hereby notified that the application 
for Permit 14159-2R is available 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 
March 11, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the permit application should be 
submitted to Matt McGoogan, NMFS, California Coastal Office, 501 W. 
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, California 90802. Comments may 
also be submitted via email ([email protected]) or fax (562) 
980-4027. The permit application is available for review, by 
appointment, at the foregoing address or online at the Authorizations 
and Permits for Protected Species website: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt McGoogan, phone: (562) 980-4026 
or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Species Covered in This Notice: Endangered 
Southern California Distinct Population Segment of steelhead 
(Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Authority

    Scientific research and enhancement 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 222-
227). NMFS issues permits based on findings 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.
    This notice is provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and any comment 
submitted to determine whether the application meets 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 and consideration of any comment submitted therein. NMFS will 
publish

[[Page 2493]]

notice of its final action in the Federal Register.
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on the application listed in 
this notice should provide the specific reasons why a hearing on the 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such a hearing is 
held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for NOAA 
Fisheries.
    Permit Application Received:

Permit 14159-2R

    NMFS' California Coastal Office in Long Beach, California applied 
to renew their Section 10(a)1(A) scientific enhancement permit (permit 
14159-2R). This application involves enhancing the survival of the 
endangered Southern California (SC) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) 
of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through (1) rescue and relocation of 
at-risk steelhead, (2) ecological research, and (3) invasive species 
management. Activities associated with these three primary components 
could occur anywhere within the range for the SC DPS of steelhead. A 
summary of these components is provided as follows.

1. Rescue and Relocation

    This component involves rescuing and relocating steelhead from 
stream sections experiencing natural dewatering during the dry season 
or prolonged periods of below average rainfall. Specific staff listed 
on the application from both NMFS and the California Department of Fish 
and Wildlife (CDFW) will follow a predetermined communication and 
documentation protocol while implementing these relocation efforts. 
Standard scientific methods and equipment (e.g., backpack-
electrofishing, nets, seines, portable air pumps, transport containers, 
water chillers, etc.) will be used during the capture and relocation of 
steelhead. Captured steelhead will be transported for release into 
habitats within the same watershed (when possible) that are determined 
likely to maintain adequate water and habitat quality through the 
remainder of the dry season. Because this is an endangered population 
with low abundance, relocating steelhead from sections of stream where 
they will likely perish is expected to benefit the survival of this 
species.

2. Ecological Research

    Basic information regarding the ecology of endangered SC steelhead 
is extremely limited, yet such information is critical for guiding 
science-based decisions regarding the conservation of this species. As 
a result, NMFS proposes field-based investigations to produce much-
needed empirical data, particularly data concerning the ecology of 
endangered steelhead. The empirical data would benefit endangered 
steelhead through informing species-management and protection efforts, 
including work NMFS undertakes while enforcing certain provisions of 
the ESA. Specific NMFS' staff listed on the application will implement 
this research. Proposed ecological research elements under this 
application could include any of the following: (1) Salvaging steelhead 
carcasses to assess age, growth, and toxicology; (2) trapping emergent 
fry to assess spawning ecology; (3) capturing juvenile steelhead to 
assess the effectiveness of steelhead relocation; (4) collecting and 
maintaining steelhead to improve species management and protection; and 
(5) developing a predictive model for the maximum size of juvenile 
steelhead in streams. Standard scientific methods and procedures (e.g., 
Passive Integrated Transponder-tagging, fin-clip/DNA analysis, scale 
sampling, otolith analysis, anesthesia etc.) are proposed for 
implementing these research elements.

3. Invasive Species Management

    NMFS' recovery plan for endangered SC steelhead highlights non-
native aquatic plant and animal species as a threat to steelhead in 
many watersheds across the SC DPS of steelhead. Non-native fish, 
crustaceans, and amphibians can harm steelhead indirectly through 
competition for resources (e.g., food, living space) or degradation of 
habitat quality and directly through predation on steelhead. As such, 
removing these non-native species is expected to be highly beneficial 
for steelhead. Specific NMFS and CDFW staff listed on the application 
will implement standard methods for capture and removal of invasive 
species (e.g., backpack-electrofishing, seining, hand-nets, traps, 
hook-and-line angling, spearfishing). Invasive species management 
methods will target capture and removal of non-native species; however, 
these activities may also result in the capture of steelhead in the 
process. Steelhead captured during invasive species management will be 
(1) measured for length and weight, (2) potentially have a tissue 
sample (i.e., fin clip, scale) taken, and (3) returned unharmed to the 
stream. Any non-native species captured will be humanely euthanized and 
disposed.
    Field activities for the various proposed enhancement components 
can occur year-round between May 1, 2019, and December 31, 2029. The 
annual sum of take requested across the various components of this 
effort is as follows: (1) Non-lethal capture and release of up to 4,000 
juvenile steelhead while electrofishing, (2) non-lethal capture and 
release of up to 200 juvenile steelhead while seining, (3) non-lethal 
capture and release of up to 100 adult steelhead using hand net or 
seine, (4) collection and retention of up to 110 adult and 300 juvenile 
steelhead carcasses, (5) non-lethal capture and release of up to 5 
adult and 600 juvenile steelhead for the purpose of applying Passive 
Integrated Transponder-tags, (6) non-lethal capture and release up to 
2000 fry during emergent trapping, (7) non-lethal capture of up to 5 
juvenile steelhead while hook-and-line angling, and (8) non-lethal 
observation of up to 2000 juvenile and 50 adult steelhead during 
instream snorkel surveys. The potential annual unintentional lethal 
steelhead take resulting from the proposed enhancement activities is up 
to 241 juvenile, 100 fry, and 2 adult. The potential annual intentional 
(directed) lethal take includes up to 200 steelhead fry.
    This proposed scientific enhancement effort is expected to enhance 
survival and support steelhead recovery across the entire SC DPS of 
steelhead and is consistent with recommendations and objectives 
outlined in NMFS' Endangered Southern California Steelhead Recovery 
Plan. See the Permit 14159-2R application for greater details on the 
various components of this scientific enhancement effort including the 
specific scientific methods proposed and take allotments requested for 
each.

    Dated: February 1, 2019.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-01375 Filed 2-6-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P