Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish, 77009-77010 [E8-30105]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 244 / Thursday, December 18, 2008 / Notices on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: December 15, 2008. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E8–30089 Filed 12–17–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XM24 Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Receipt of applications for scientific research permits; request for comments. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received applications for scientific research from Natural Resource Scientists, Incorporated (NRS), in Red Bluff, CA (14077), and from the U.S. Geological Services (USGS) in Sacramento, CA (14150). These permits would affect the federally endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon and the threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs), the federally threatened Central Valley steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS), and the federally threatened southern Distinct Population of North American green sturgeon (southern DPS of green sturgeon). This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit applications for review and comment. DATES: Written comments on the permit applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on January 20, 2009. ADDRESSES: Comments submitted by email must be sent to the following address FRNpermitsSAC@noaa.gov. The applications and related documents are available for review by appointment, for permits : Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 8–300, VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:51 Dec 17, 2008 Jkt 217001 Sacramento, CA 95814 (ph: 916–930– 3600, fax: 916–930–3629). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shirley Witalis telephone 916–930– 3606, or e-mail: Shirley.Witalis@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 1543) (ESA), is based on a finding that such permits/modifications: (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. Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject to the ESA and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222–226). Those individuals 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). The holding of such a hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the permit action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS. Species Covered in This Notice This notice is relevant to federallylisted endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) ESU, threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) ESU, threatened Central Valley steelhead (O. mykiss) DPS, threatened Central California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss), and threatened southern DPS of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris). Applications Received NRS requests a 2–year permit (14077) for take of juvenile Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, and southern DPS of green sturgeon to conduct sitespecific research at three irrigation diversion sites off the Sacramento River, California. This research is part of an on-going investigation into developing criteria for prioritizing fish screening projects, and will correlate fish PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 77009 entrainment with the physical, hydraulic, and habitat variables at each diversion site. All fish will be identified as to species/race, enumerated, measured for length, and placed back into the canals; all entrained live fish will be returned to the river. Sampling at each diversion site will be performed daily from April 1 through October 31, 2009, and April 1 through October 31, 2010. NRS requests authorization for an estimated annual non-lethal take of 1,466 juvenile Sacramento River winterrun Chinook salmon, 1,307 Central Valley juvenile spring-run Chinook salmon, and 155 Central Valley juvenile steelhead, for a total of 2,928 salmonids per year. NRS estimates the annual nonlethal take of 184 juvenile southern DPS of green sturgeon. Estimates of take for the two year study are 5,856 salmonids and 368 green sturgeon. USGS, in co-sponsorship with the California Department of Water Resources, California Bay-Delta Authority, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, requests a 5–year permit (14150) for take of juvenile Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon and Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon associated with researching the mechanisms that control out-migration pathways and survival of endangered juvenile salmon in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California (Delta) from the interaction between seasonal timescale variations in upstream hydrology and strong tidal forcing effects from water management actions. The goals of the study are two-fold: (1) to determine the factors (channel geometry, velocity structure, and behavior) that control entrainment in the Delta Cross Channel and Georgiana Slough; and (2) to determine routes and survival of out-migrating juvenile salmon throughout the north, west and centralDelta. The primary source of study fish will be 5500 Central Valley late-fall subyearling Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) from Coleman National Fish Hatchery (CNFH). To investigate differences of behavioral response between hatchery and wild fish, an admixture of 250 juvenile winter-, spring-, fall- and late fall-run Chinook salmon will be collected from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or California Department of Fish and Game rotary screw trap monitoring efforts in the Sacramento River at river mile (RM) 242 and RM 205 and transported directly to a shoreline research location or the California-Nevada Fish Health Center at the CNFH complex and held prior to being transported to shoreline research locations for surgical insertion of acoustic transmitters; a tissue sample will be collected from wild juvenile E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM 18DEN1 77010 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 244 / Thursday, December 18, 2008 / Notices salmon for genetic analysis. Shoreline research locations will include: (1) the Tower Bridge in Sacramento, California; and (2) the city of Ryde, California (RM 24); and Georgiana Slough. Hatchery and wild salmon will then be transported and/or released for tracking by acoustic telemetry receivers in place throughout the Delta. Fish capture and transport will begin in mid-October and continue until early February of the following year; all field activities will be completed by March of each sampling season. USGS requests authorization for an estimated take of 100 wild Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon and 38 Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, including no more than 15 percent unintentional mortality resulting from handling, transporting and holding, tissue-sampling, invasive tagging, and releasing for tracking by hydroacoustic telemetry arrays. Dated: December 12, 2008. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–30105 Filed 12–17–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN: 0648–XM29 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a public meeting of the Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP). DATES: The Shrimp AP meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2009 and end by 2 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Spring Hill Suites, 7922 Mosley Road, Houston, TX 77061. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Interim Executive Director; telephone: (813) 348–1630. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Shrimp AP will receive a presentation of the ‘‘Biological Review of the 2008 mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:51 Dec 17, 2008 Jkt 217001 Texas Closure and Percent Change in Yield’’ and consider recommendations for a cooperative closure with Texas in 2009. The Shrimp AP will also receive presentations of the ‘‘Status and Health of the Shrimp Stocks for 2007’’, the ‘‘Stock Assessment Report 2007’’, ‘‘A Biological Review of the Tortugas Pink Shrimp Fishery Through December 2007’’, and a Report on the Number of Moratorium Permits Issued and Preliminary Effort Estimates for 2008. The Shrimp AP may make recommendations regarding these reports. Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Shrimp AP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions of the Shrimp AP will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take action to address the emergency. Copies of the agenda can be obtained by calling (813) 348–1630. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Tina O’Hern at the Council (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the meeting. Dated: December 15, 2008. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–30092 Filed 12–17–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN: 0648–XM28 Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings and Hearings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of reports; public meetings, and hearings. SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 begun its annual preseason management process for the 2009 ocean salmon fisheries. This document announces the availability of Council documents as well as the dates and locations of Council meetings and public hearings comprising the Council’s complete schedule of events for determining the annual proposed and final modifications to ocean salmon fishery management measures. The agendas for the March and April 2009 Council meetings will be published in subsequent Federal Register documents prior to the actual meetings. DATES: Written comments on the salmon management options must be received by March 31, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time. ADDRESSES: Documents will be available from, and written comments should be sent to, Mr. Donald Hansen, Chairman, Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220–1384, telephone: (503) 820–2280 (voice) or (503) 820– 2299 (fax). Comments can also be submitted via e-mail at PFMC.comments@noaa.gov. address, or through the internet at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments, and include the I.D. number in the subject line of the message. For specific meeting and hearing locations, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chuck Tracy, telephone: (503) 820– 2280. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Schedule for Document Completion and Availability February 26, 2009: ‘‘Review of 2008 Ocean Salmon Fisheries’’ and ‘‘Preseason Report I-Stock Abundance Analysis for 2009 Ocean Salmon Fisheries’’ will be mailed to the public and posted on the Council website at https://www.pcouncil.org. March 22, 2009: ‘‘Preseason Report IIAnalysis of Proposed Regulatory Options for 2009 Ocean Salmon Fisheries’’ and public hearing schedule will be mailed to the public and posted on the Council website at https:// www.pcouncil.org. The report will include a description of the adopted salmon management options and a summary of their biological and economic impacts. April 24, 2009: ‘‘Preseason Report IIIAnalysis of Council-Adopted Ocean E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM 18DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 244 (Thursday, December 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77009-77010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30105]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XM24


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION:  Receipt of applications for scientific research permits; 
request for comments.

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

SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received applications 
for scientific research from Natural Resource Scientists, Incorporated 
(NRS), in Red Bluff, CA (14077), and from the U.S. Geological Services 
(USGS) in Sacramento, CA (14150). These permits would affect the 
federally endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon and the 
threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon Evolutionarily 
Significant Units (ESUs), the federally threatened Central Valley 
steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS), and the federally 
threatened southern Distinct Population of North American green 
sturgeon (southern DPS of green sturgeon). This document serves to 
notify the public of the availability of the permit applications for 
review and comment.

DATES:  Written comments on the permit applications must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on January 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES:  Comments submitted by e-mail must be sent to the following 
address FRNpermitsSAC@noaa.gov. The applications and related documents 
are available for review by appointment, for permits : Protected 
Resources Division, NMFS, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 8-300, Sacramento, CA 
95814 (ph: 916-930-3600, fax: 916-930-3629).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Shirley Witalis telephone 916-930-
3606, or e-mail: Shirley.Witalis@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 1543) (ESA), is based on 
a finding that such permits/modifications: (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. 
Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject 
to the ESA and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife 
permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    Those individuals 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). The holding of such a 
hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the permit 
action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of NMFS.

Species Covered in This Notice

    This notice is relevant to federally-listed endangered Sacramento 
River winter-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) ESU, 
threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) 
ESU, threatened Central Valley steelhead (O. mykiss) DPS, threatened 
Central California Coast steelhead (O. mykiss), and threatened southern 
DPS of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris).

Applications Received

    NRS requests a 2-year permit (14077) for take of juvenile 
Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley spring-run 
Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, and southern DPS of green 
sturgeon to conduct site-specific research at three irrigation 
diversion sites off the Sacramento River, California. This research is 
part of an on-going investigation into developing criteria for 
prioritizing fish screening projects, and will correlate fish 
entrainment with the physical, hydraulic, and habitat variables at each 
diversion site. All fish will be identified as to species/race, 
enumerated, measured for length, and placed back into the canals; all 
entrained live fish will be returned to the river. Sampling at each 
diversion site will be performed daily from April 1 through October 31, 
2009, and April 1 through October 31, 2010. NRS requests authorization 
for an estimated annual non-lethal take of 1,466 juvenile Sacramento 
River winter-run Chinook salmon, 1,307 Central Valley juvenile spring-
run Chinook salmon, and 155 Central Valley juvenile steelhead, for a 
total of 2,928 salmonids per year. NRS estimates the annual non-lethal 
take of 184 juvenile southern DPS of green sturgeon. Estimates of take 
for the two year study are 5,856 salmonids and 368 green sturgeon.
    USGS, in co-sponsorship with the California Department of Water 
Resources, California Bay-Delta Authority, and the U.S. Bureau of 
Reclamation, requests a 5-year permit (14150) for take of juvenile 
Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon and Central Valley spring-
run Chinook salmon associated with researching the mechanisms that 
control out-migration pathways and survival of endangered juvenile 
salmon in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California (Delta) from the 
interaction between seasonal timescale variations in upstream hydrology 
and strong tidal forcing effects from water management actions. The 
goals of the study are two-fold: (1) to determine the factors (channel 
geometry, velocity structure, and behavior) that control entrainment in 
the Delta Cross Channel and Georgiana Slough; and (2) to determine 
routes and survival of out-migrating juvenile salmon throughout the 
north, west and centralDelta. The primary source of study fish will be 
5500 Central Valley late-fall subyearling Chinook salmon (O. 
tshawytscha) from Coleman National Fish Hatchery (CNFH). To investigate 
differences of behavioral response between hatchery and wild fish, an 
admixture of 250 juvenile winter-, spring-, fall- and late fall-run 
Chinook salmon will be collected from
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or California Department of Fish and 
Game rotary screw trap monitoring efforts in the Sacramento River at 
river mile (RM) 242 and RM 205 and transported directly to a shoreline 
research location or the California-Nevada Fish Health Center at the 
CNFH complex and held prior to being transported to shoreline research 
locations for surgical insertion of acoustic transmitters; a tissue 
sample will be collected from wild juvenile

[[Page 77010]]

salmon for genetic analysis. Shoreline research locations will include: 
(1) the Tower Bridge in Sacramento, California; and (2) the city of 
Ryde, California (RM 24); and Georgiana Slough. Hatchery and wild 
salmon will then be transported and/or released for tracking by 
acoustic telemetry receivers in place throughout the Delta. Fish 
capture and transport will begin in mid-October and continue until 
early February of the following year; all field activities will be 
completed by March of each sampling season. USGS requests authorization 
for an estimated take of 100 wild Sacramento River winter-run Chinook 
salmon and 38 Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, including no 
more than 15 percent unintentional mortality resulting from handling, 
transporting and holding, tissue-sampling, invasive tagging, and 
releasing for tracking by hydroacoustic telemetry arrays.

    Dated: December 12, 2008.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-30105 Filed 12-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.