Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish, 42278 [2012-17487]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 42278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17487]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC105


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Receipt of application for scientific research and enhancement.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a scientific 
research and enhancement permit application request relating to 
anadromous species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The 
proposed research activities are intended to increase knowledge of the 
species and to help guide management and conservation efforts.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application must be received at 
the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 
p.m. Pacific standard time on August 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents may be viewed online 
at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm. 
These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment by contacting NMFS by phone (916) 930-3706 or fax (916) 
930-3629. Written comments on the application should be submitted to 
the Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 650 Capitol Mall, Room 5-100, 
Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments may also be submitted via fax to (916) 
930-3629 or by email to FRNpermits.SR@noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Cranford, Sacramento, CA (ph.: 
916-930-3706, email: Amanda.Cranford@noaa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

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

Authority

    Scientific research permits are issued in accordance with section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and regulations 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226). NMFS 
issues permits based on findings that such permits: (1) Are applied for 
in good faith; (2) if granted and exercised, 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. The authority to take listed species is 
subject to conditions set forth in the permits.
    Anyone requesting a hearing on the applications listed in this 
notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on the 
application(s) would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are 
held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NMFS.

Application Received

Permit 16543

    The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is requesting a 3-year 
scientific research and enhancement permit to take adult CCV steelhead, 
Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley spring-run 
Chinook salmon, and both adult and juvenile sDPS green sturgeon 
associated with research activities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin 
Delta, California. In the studies described below, all take will be 
incidental and non-lethal. Application 16543 was previously noticed in 
the Federal Register (76 FR 57717) with a 30 day comment period from 
September 16, 2011 to October 17, 2011. No comments were received for 
this application, however due to substantial changes to the sampling 
methods and the amount take NMFS decided to publish the revised notice 
for public comment.
    This project will examine predation by introduced fishes (striped 
bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass) and native resident fishes 
(Sacramento pikeminnow) on migrating native fishes (juvenile Chinook 
salmon, juvenile steelhead, delta and longfin smelt, white and green 
sturgeon, and Sacramento splittail) across a variety of habitats and 
migration corridors in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. 
Results will provide information on spatial and environmental patterns 
of predation; critical information for guiding future restoration 
projects on conditions likely to support or discourage higher predation 
rates on endangered and native fishes. The sampling will be conducted 
in April, June and December in the Sacramento River above Rio Vista, 
Georgiana, Steamboat, Miner, and Cache sloughs, the Sacramento Deep 
Water Ship Channel, and Liberty Island. Sampling months were selected 
based on likely periods of co-occurrence of predators and prey species 
of interest. Predators will be sampled using trammel nets, with the 
goal of genetically analyzing their gut contents for the DNA of various 
prey items.
    While listed species are not the target of the sampling program, 
incidental take may occur and will provide valuable information on 
abundance, habitat use, and migration timing.

    Dated: July 13, 2012.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-17487 Filed 7-17-12; 8:45 am]
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