Notice2021-17869
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 20, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 159 (Friday, August 20, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 159 (Friday, August 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46832-46833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8be6eaffffe3eefca5e6e8ece4e4eceae5cbe5e4eaeaa5ece4fd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="45282431312d20326b2826222a2a22242b052b2a24246b222a33">[email protected]</span></a>). The permit application is available for
review online at the Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species
website: <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt McGoogan (phone: 562 980-4026;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8de0ecf9f9e5e8faa3e0eeeae2e2eaece3cde3e2ececa3eae2fb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c0ada1b4b4a8a5b7eeada3a7afafa7a1ae80aeafa1a1eea7afb6">[email protected]</span></a>).
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]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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