[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 159 (Friday, August 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46832-46833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17869]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB341]


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 of receipt.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application 
from Stillwater Sciences to renew their U.S. Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) scientific enhancement permit (permit 20085-2R) involving 
invasive species removal from a southern California watershed (Chorro 
Creek) in San Luis Obispo County. Proposed activities within the permit 
application are expected to affect the threatened South Central 
California Coast (SCCC) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead 
(Oncorhynchus mykiss). The public is hereby notified that the 
application for Permit 20085-2R 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 email address (see ADDRESSES) on or before September 
20, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the permit application should be 
submitted to NMFS' section 10(a)1(A) steelhead permit coordinator for 
southern California, Matt McGoogan, via email 
([email protected]). The permit application is available for 
review 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; 
email: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notification

    Threatened South Central California Coast 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 notification 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 notification of the final action on the subject 
permit application in the Federal Register.
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on the application listed in 
this notification 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 Fisheries, 
NOAA.
    All statements and opinions contained in the permit action summary 
are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of 
NMFS.
    Permit Application Received:

Permit 20085-2R

    Stillwater Sciences (environmental consulting firm) has applied to 
renew their section 10(a)1(A) scientific enhancement permit (permit 
20085-2R) involving an invasive species management effort focused on 
the removal of Sacramento pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus grandis) from the 
Chorro Creek watershed in San Luis Obispo County, California. The 
primary objectives of this effort involve: (1) Determining the 
distribution, abundance, size, and age structures of both pikeminnow 
and SCCC steelhead; (2) suppressing or eliminating pikeminnow from the 
watershed; (3) developing a plan for long-term pikeminnow management in 
the watershed; and (4) documenting changes in SCCC steelhead abundance 
and distribution in response to pikeminnow removal. Proposed 
enhancement activities include: (1) Conducting snorkel surveys to 
assess abundance and distribution of pikeminnow and SCCC steelhead; (2) 
using backpack electrofishing equipment, seine-nets, hook-and-line 
sampling, and spearfishing to capture pikeminnow; (3) anesthetizing any 
juvenile steelhead captured during electrofishing and seining 
activities prior to measuring weight and length; (4) returning any 
captured steelhead to Chorro Creek; and (5) humanely euthanizing and 
disposing of pikeminnow. Field activities for the proposed enhancement 
effort will occur during the summer and fall for ten years between 
October 2021, and December 2031. The annual take Stillwater Sciences is 
requesting for this effort is as follows: (1) Non-lethal capture and 
release of up to 1,500 juvenile steelhead while electrofishing, (2) 
non-lethal capture and release of up to 150 juvenile steelhead while 
seining, (3) non-lethal capture and release up to 10 juvenile steelhead 
while hook-and-line fishing, and (4) non-lethal observation of up to 
2000 juvenile and 10 adult steelhead during instream snorkel surveys. 
The potential annual unintentional lethal take resulting from the 
proposed enhancement activities is up to 33 juvenile steelhead. 
Overall, no intentional lethal take of steelhead is proposed or 
expected as a result of these enhancement activities.
    This proposed scientific enhancement effort is expected to support 
steelhead recovery in the Chorro Creek watershed and is consistent with 
recommendations and objectives outlined in NMFS' South Central 
California Steelhead Recovery Plan. See the application for Permit 
20085-2R for greater details on the

[[Page 46833]]

scientific enhancement proposal and related methodology.

    Dated: August 16, 2021.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-17869 Filed 8-19-21; 8:45 am]
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