[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 41 (Monday, March 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12269-12270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04215]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA045]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of one renewed U.S. Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific enhancement permit (permit 14159-
2R).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued a renewed ESA 
Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific enhancement permit (permit 14159-2R) to 
NMFS' California Coastal Office in Long Beach, California. Authorized 
activities under this permit are expected 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.

ADDRESSES: The application for permit 14159-2R and the issued permit 
are available for review, by appointment, at the foregoing address: 
California Coastal Office, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, California 90802 (phone: 562-980-4026, fax: 562-980-4027, email 
at: [email protected]). The permit application is also 
available for review online at the Authorizations and Permits for 
Protected Species website: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/.

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 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 part 222-227). NMFS 
may issue a scientific enhancement permit only when such a permit is 
determined (1) to be applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate to 
the disadvantage of the listed species which are the subject of the 
permit, and (3) is 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 permit.
    Pursuant to Section 10(c) of the ESA, a notice of receipt for 
permit 14159-2R's application was published in the Federal Register on 
February 7, 2019 (84 FR 2492), providing 30 days for public comment 
prior to permit processing. No comment was received on this permit 
application.

[[Page 12270]]

Permit Issued

Permit 14159-2R

    On July 30, 2019, the renewed Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific 
enhancement permit 14159-2R was issued to NMFS' California Coastal 
Office in Long Beach, California. This permit authorizes activities 
that are expected to enhance 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 permit from both NMFS and the California Department of Fish and 
Wildlife (CDFW) are authorized to conduct relocation activities and 
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.) are 
authorized for 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. 
Field-based investigations authorized under permit 14159-2R are 
expected 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 enforcement of certain ESA 
provisions. Specific NMFS' staff listed on the permit are authorized to 
implement this research. Ecological research elements authorized under 
permit 14159-2R involve 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. Permit 14159-2R authorizes standard scientific 
methods and procedures (e.g., Passive Integrated Transponder-tagging, 
fin-clip/DNA analysis, scale sampling, otolith analysis, anesthesia 
etc.) to conduct 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 permit are 
authorized to implement standard methods for capture and removal of 
invasive species (e.g., backpack-electrofishing, seining, hand-nets, 
traps, hook-and-line angling, and 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 enhancement components authorized 
under permit 14159-2R can occur year-round between July 30, 2019 and 
December 31, 2029. The annual sum of take authorized with permit 14159-
2R 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 
2,000 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 2,000 juvenile and 50 adult steelhead during 
instream snorkel surveys. The annual unintentional lethal steelhead 
take authorized under permit 14159-2R is up to 241 juvenile, 100 fry, 
and 2 adult. The annual intentional (directed) lethal take authorized 
under permit 14159-2R is up to 200 steelhead fry.
    The activities authorized under permit 14159-2R are expected to 
enhance survival and support steelhead recovery across the entire SC 
DPS of steelhead and are consistent with recommendations and objectives 
outlined in NMFS' Endangered Southern California Steelhead Recovery 
Plan. See the application for permit 14159-2R and issued permit for 
greater details on the various components of this scientific 
enhancement effort including the specific scientific methods and take 
allotments authorized for each.

    Dated: February 25, 2020.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-04215 Filed 2-28-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P