[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 89 (Monday, May 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27574-27575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09838]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC008]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Notice, Permit Renewal of an Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
Section

[[Page 27575]]

10(a)1(A) scientific enhancement permit.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS renewed Section 10(a)1(A) 
scientific enhancement Permit 20085-2R to Stillwater Sciences Inc. 
(Stillwater). Authorized activities within the permit are expected to 
affect and enhance the threatened South Central California Coast (SCCC) 
Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 
through invasive species removal from a southern California watershed 
(Chorro Creek) in San Luis Obispo County, California.

ADDRESSES: The permit application, the permit, and other related 
documents are available for review by contacting the California Coastal 
Office, Section 10(a)1(A) permit coordinator for southern California 
(Matt McGoogan: phone: 562-980-4026 or email at: 
[email protected]). The application for Permit 20085-2R is also 
available for review at the Authorizations and Permits for Protected 
Species website: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/search/search.cfm.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notification

    Threatened SCCC steelhead.

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 a Section 10(a)1(A) permit based on findings that the 
permit is (1) applied for in good faith, (2) would not operate to the 
disadvantage of the listed species which is the subject of the permit, 
and (3) consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in Section 
2 of the ESA. Authority for take exemption of listed species is subject 
to conditions set forth in the permit.

Permit 20085-2R

    A receipt of application notice for Permit 20085-2R was published 
in the Federal Register on August 20, 2021 (86 FR 46832), providing 30 
days for public comment prior to permit processing. No comments were 
received. Permit 20085-2R was issued to Stillwater on October 20, 2021.
    Permit 20085-2R authorizes take exemption of threatened SCCC 
steelhead in association with enhancement activities involving the 
removal of Sacramento pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus grandis) from the 
Chorro Creek watershed in San Luis Obispo County, California. The 
primary objectives of this enhancement effort involve: (1) Determining 
the distribution, abundance, size, and age structures of both 
pikeminnow and steelhead in the watershed; (2) eliminating pikeminnow 
from the watershed; (3) developing a plan for long-term pikeminnow 
management in the watershed; and (4) documenting changes in 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 steelhead; (2) 
using backpack electrofishing equipment, seines, hook-and-line 
sampling, and spearfishing to capture pikeminnow; (3) measuring the 
weight and length of juvenile steelhead collected during sampling 
activities; (4) returning the collected steelhead alive and unharmed to 
Chorro Creek; and (5) humanely euthanizing and disposing pikeminnow.
    Permit 20085-2R authorized field activities associated with the 
enhancement effort to begin on October 20, 2021 (the date the permit 
was issued), and ceases authorization of the subject activities when 
the permit expires on December 31, 2031. The annual take exemption of 
threatened SCCC steelhead that permit 20085-2R authorizes for the 
subject enhancement 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 
2,000 juvenile and 10 adult steelhead during instream snorkel surveys. 
The potential annual unintentional lethal take permit 20085-2R 
authorizes is up to 33 juvenile steelhead. No intentional lethal take 
of steelhead is authorized or expected as a result of these enhancement 
activities.
    The subject scientific enhancement activities that Permit 20085-2R 
authorizes are expected to support steelhead recovery in the Chorro 
Creek watershed and are consistent with recommendations and objectives 
outlined in NMFS' South Central California Coast Steelhead Recovery 
Plan. See the application for Permit 20085-2R and issued Permit 20085-
2R for greater details on the associated scientific enhancement 
activities and related methodology authorized with this permit.

    Dated: May 3, 2022.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-09838 Filed 5-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P