80_FR_50768 80 FR 50607 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

80 FR 50607 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 161 (August 20, 2015)

Page Range50607-50610
FR Document2015-20616

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued Endangered Species Act (ESA) scientific research Permit 18251 to the Marine Science Institute. Additionally, NMFS has received four scientific research and enhancement permit modification requests relating to anadromous species listed under the ESA. The proposed research activities are intended to increase knowledge of the species and to help guide management and conservation efforts. The application for each permit is available on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS), https:// apps.nmfs.noaa.gov Web site by searching the permit number within the Search Database page. The applications for each permit modification request may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/ preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 161 (Thursday, August 20, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50607-50610]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20616]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE098


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

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

ACTION: Issuance of one permit and receipt of four permit modification 
requests for scientific research and enhancement.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued Endangered Species 
Act (ESA) scientific research Permit 18251 to the Marine Science 
Institute. Additionally, NMFS has received four scientific research and 
enhancement permit modification requests relating to anadromous species 
listed under the ESA. The proposed research activities are intended to 
increase knowledge of the species and to help guide management and 
conservation efforts. The application for each permit is available on 
the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS), https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov Web site by searching the permit number within the 
Search Database page. The applications for each permit modification 
request may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on September 21, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the applications should be submitted to 
the California Central Valley Office, NMFS, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5-
100, Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 
916-930-3629 or by email to [email protected] (include the permit 
number in the subject line of the fax or email).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Cranford, Sacramento, CA (ph.: 
916-930-3706), Fax: 916-930-3629, email: [email protected]). 
Permit application instructions are available from the address above, 
or online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): threatened Central 
Valley spring-run (CVSR); endangered Sacramento River winter-run 
(SRWR).
    Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened California Central Valley (CCV);
    North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medisrostris): threatened 
southern distinct population segment (SDPS).

Authority

    Scientific research 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 parts 222-227). 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 that are the subject of the permit; 
and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policy of 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 an application listed in this notice 
should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that application 
would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are held at the 
discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS.

Permits Issued

Permit 18251

    A notice of the receipt of an application for a scientific research 
and enhancement permit (18251) was published in the Federal Register on 
March 10, 2014 (79 FR 13279). Permit 18251 was issued to the Marine 
Science Institute on June 30, 2014 and expires on December 31, 2018. 
Permit 18251 authorizes take of SRWR Chinook salmon smolts, CVSR 
Chinook salmon smolts, CCV steelhead smolts, and juvenile SDPS green 
sturgeon associated with monitoring and research activities conducted 
in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Central Valley, California. The 
purpose of the research is to educate local 6th graders and their 
parents about the Delta ecosystem and to teach them how to be better 
stewards of the watershed. The students will go on a 3.5 hour voyage. 
During the voyage

[[Page 50608]]

they will rotate through four stations: Hydrology (discussion based), 
Benthic (mud grab and invertebrate study), Plankton (plankton tow and 
identification), and Ichthyology (Otter trawl and fish identification). 
During the Ichthyology station a five minute mid-water trawl using an 
Otter trawl will be deployed to collect fish for the students to study. 
The net will be emptied by instructional staff into a tank that is 
constantly refilled with water from the Delta. Any species of concern 
are then identified and immediately released back into the Delta. Fish 
are transferred from the tank back into Delta by buckets filled with 
water from the Delta to minimize stress.

Modification Requests Received

Permit 18181--2M

    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is requesting 
to modify Permit 18181. Permit 18181 was issued to CDFW on January 14, 
2014 for take of CVSR Chinook salmon, SRWR Chinook salmon, CCV 
steelhead, and SDPS green sturgeon associated with research and rescue 
activities in the Upper Sacramento River and associated tributaries in 
Shasta and Tehama counties, the Colusa Basin Drainage Canal (CBDC), 
Wallace and Fremont weirs in the Yolo Bypass, and Tisdale Weir in the 
Sutter Bypass. CDFW is requesting to modify Permit 18181 to include 
additional rescue and monitoring efforts that routinely occur 
throughout the Central Valley. Further, after conducting capture and 
relocation activities within the CBDC and at Wallace Weir, the project 
description, sampling methodologies and take estimates can be refined 
to better reflect the current rescue operations. The primary purpose of 
the proposed monitoring will be to assess entrainment of ESA-listed 
salmonids and SDPS green sturgeon resulting from extreme environmental 
conditions and complex water operations within California's Central 
Valley. CDFW will assess the conditions leading to entrainment and 
determine whether rescue and relocation activities are warranted. The 
rescue and relocation efforts proposed are: (1) The CBDC Trapping and 
Relocation Operation, which aims to trap and relocate adult Chinook 
salmon and other species of management concern before they enter and 
become entrained within the CDBC; (2) Monitoring of Sacramento River 
Flood Control Project Weirs and Flood Relief Structures, bypasses are 
surveyed after high flow events to determine the level of entrainment 
and if warranted rescues will be conducted, with a specific focus on 
Tisdale and Fremont weirs in the Sacramento River; and (3) Upper 
Sacramento River Redd Dewatering Surveys and Rescue of Stranded 
Juvenile Winter-run Chinook Salmon, which allows CDFW biologists to 
predict the flow at which redds will be dewatered on a redd-by-redd 
basis and conduct rescues if necessary. Rescue and relocation of ESA-
listed fish will be carried out using fyke traps, Alaskan-style 
resistance board weirs, block nets, hoop nets, fyke nets, and beach 
seines. Observational surveys using dual identification sonar (DIDSON) 
imagery may also be conducted if necessary. The majority of captured 
fish would be identified to species, enumerated, measured for standard 
length, sampled for tissues and released. Juvenile SRWR and CVSR 
Chinook salmon would be identified using the Length-at-Date-of-Capture 
Table. ESA-listed species would be processed first and released. Adult 
salmonids that are trapped during rescue and relocation activities will 
be sampled for tissues (genetics), tagged with two individually 
numbered Floy tags, and relocated to the nearest, accessible location 
on the Sacramento River. If SDPS green sturgeon are encountered during 
rescue activities, acoustic tags will be surgically implanted by 
trained staff and data will be recorded on fish size, condition, and 
time of release. To reduce handling mortality, investigators will 
conduct water to water transfers, use fish-friendly nets, avoid 
handling when possible, and release fish will at the nearest suitable 
location to reduce handling and transport times.

Permit 14808-2M

    Permit 14808 was issued to CDFW on September 26, 2012 for take of 
juvenile CVSR Chinook salmon, SRWR Chinook salmon, and CCV steelhead 
while conducting juvenile emigration monitoring at Knights Landing in 
the Lower Sacramento River, Yolo County, California. The permit 
modification is being requested in order to refine sampling methods, 
increase take levels and address changes to the proposed procedures. 
Additionally, CDFW requested that all ongoing research and monitoring 
be consolidated into a single section 10(a)(1)(A) Permit to improve 
efficiencies associated with reporting. In addition to the juvenile 
emigration monitoring at Knights Landing, which aims to compile 
information on timing, composition (species/race), and relative 
abundance of juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead emigrating from the 
Upper Sacramento River system into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, 
CDFW is requesting that the following research and monitoring efforts 
be added to Permit 14808: (1) The Central Valley Steelhead Monitoring 
Program, that includes studies targeting CCV steelhead throughout the 
Sacramento River and San Joaquin River basins in order to examine the 
distribution, abundance, and population trends of CCV steelhead and 
provide the data necessary to help assess progress towards restoration 
and recovery goals; and (2) Upper Sacramento River Restoration Site 
Monitoring, which will establish baseline use at proposed restoration 
sites to help determine the success once restoration projects are 
implemented through juvenile presence/absence surveys at a variety of 
sites on the Upper Sacramento River. CDFW will conduct juvenile 
emigration monitoring through the use of paired 8-foot rotary screw 
traps (RSTs) on the Sacramento River beginning in October and 
continuing through June of the following year. Traps will be fished 
continuously and checked once every 24 hours unless conditions such as 
high flows or excessive debris warrant more frequent sampling. Captured 
salmonids will be handled (including measurements), allowed to recover 
in fresh aerated water and released back into the Sacramento River. A 
small subsample of adipose fin-clipped (hatchery-origin) Chinook salmon 
will be sacrificed (directed mortality) daily for coded wire tag 
extraction and analysis. The Steelhead Monitoring Program will utilize 
wire fyke traps to capture, mark, and recapture upstream migrating 
adult steelhead in order to estimate adult steelhead escapement from 
the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Fyke trapping will occur 
annually from August through May. A DIDSON camera or device of similar 
capabilities will be placed at the entrance to the fyke traps to 
monitor salmonid movements and assist in adjusting trap placement to 
maximize capture rates. Traps will be fished 24 hours a day with all 
traps being inspected, cleaned, and emptied at least once every 24 
hours to minimize the period of time steelhead are detained. All 
captured steelhead (hatchery and wild) will be enumerated, weighed, 
measured, sexed (if possible), photographed for body condition, checked 
for previous tags, and sampled for scales. Healthy steelhead captured 
in good condition will receive a passive integrated transponder (PIT) 
tag. Hatchery-origin steelhead will receive a two inch, individually 
numbered, bicolor Floy tag posterior to the dorsal fin. A randomly 
selected subset of captured steelhead will receive an acoustic tag in 
addition to PIT and Floy

[[Page 50609]]

tags to determine migration and survival behavior. Individuals selected 
for acoustic tagging will be surgically tagged with a VEMCO acoustic 
transmitter tag or similarly compatible device in the abdomen posterior 
to the pelvic fins. Tag recapture monitoring in Sacramento River 
tributaries will be performed using in-stream PIT tag detection 
antennas. Current angler harvest surveys and hatchery broodstock 
collection programs combined with advances in tag detection technology 
will allow biologists to estimate the number of tag recaptures to 
Sacramento River tributaries. All Upper Sacramento River Restoration 
Site Monitoring will be observational and no handling of juvenile 
salmonids will occur. Sampling methods will include snorkel surveys, 
video surveys and DIDSON surveys. The survey results will help 
Restoration Ecologists design better projects in the future. 
Information collected will also help to determine locations where 
juvenile Chinook salmon are rearing upstream of Red Bluff Diversion 
Dam.

Permit 1415-2M

    Permit 1415 was issued to the USFWS, Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife 
Office on February 6, 2014. The overall purpose of the project is to 
provide monitoring data for various evaluations, including restoration 
actions, stream flow assessments, management actions, and life-history 
investigations. Species under investigation include CVSR Chinook 
salmon, SRWR Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead, and SDPS green sturgeon 
while conducting research studies in Battle Creek, Clear Creek, and the 
Upper Sacramento River Basin (i.e., Upper River and surrounding 
watersheds). The permit modification requested by USFWS is specific to 
Study 6--Sacramento River Juvenile Fish Monitoring at the Red Bluff 
Diversion Dam. All other studies authorized under Permit 1415 will 
remain unchanged at this time. Take resulting from the research and 
monitoring activities carried out by USFWS will involve observations 
(snorkel surveys, redd counts and escapement/stream surveys) or capture 
(by trawl, seine, fyke-net trap, benthic D-net, substrate samplers, 
hook and line, backpack electrofishing, weir trap, trammel or gill net, 
rotary screw trap, egg mats, or by dip net), handling (sedation, fin 
clipping, tissue sampling, coded-wire tag extraction, otolith 
extraction), marking (Bismark brown Y stain), tagging (acoustic, PIT), 
and release of fish once adequately recovered. A majority of the ESA-
listed fish that are captured will be immediately collected from the 
sampling gears, placed in containers filled with river water collected 
at the location being sampled, processed, held in a recovery container 
filled with aerated river water, and subsequently released at the 
sampled location. One exception includes the proposed intentional 
directed mortality of up to 80 SRWR Chinook salmon juveniles associated 
with Study 6. The purpose of the directed intentional mortality of SRWR 
Chinook salmon is to determine potential mechanisms for reduced 
survival in collaboration with the USWFS California-Nevada Fish Health 
Center. Extreme drought conditions and poor in-river conditions appear 
to be having adverse effects on emigrating juvenile salmonids. Elevated 
water temperatures are likely increasing the prevalence of some 
bacteria and parasite infections. USFWS will obtain up to 10 live 
juvenile winter-run Chinook salmon per week (for approximately 8 weeks) 
from RST monitoring carried out at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam (Study 
6), from early September through October. The subsample of juveniles 
collected from the traps will be sacrificed in order to identify 
microbial (e.g. parasite and bacteria) and non-infectious (e.g. 
coagulative yolk, gill hyperplasia) disease in the out-migrant juvenile 
SRWR Chinook salmon population passing the RSTs during the typical peak 
period. The low sample number proposed would likely limit detection to 
high prevalence pathogens. The histological approach will provide 
information on the severity of any given condition and is logistically 
prudent for the RST monitoring.

Permit 17299-2M

    Permit 17299 was issued to the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center (SWFSC), Fishery Ecology Division (FED), on April 4, 2013 for 
research to be conducted at various sites and hatcheries within 
California's Central Valley. The main purpose of the research conducted 
by the SWFSC is to carry out comparative studies on salmonid ecology 
across all Central Valley habitats (streams, rivers and Delta) to 
increase knowledge of California's Chinook salmon and steelhead life 
histories. The modification request relates to the life stages sampled 
and the total take associated with Studies 1 and 3 authorized by Permit 
17299. These studies include investigations into outmigration survival 
based upon telemetry technology and investigations of the physiological 
response (as measured by aerobic scope) to varying temperature and flow 
regimes. Given the current threats posed to SRWR Chinook salmon 
including anthropogenic alterations of natural flow regimes and climate 
change, these studies quantitatively measures the capacity for 
adaptation of SRWR Chinook salmon juveniles to these conditions. The 
unprecedented conditions associated with the California drought have 
exacerbated these challenges, such that more detailed and finer 
resolution studies are needed to evaluate the potential consequences of 
a range of water management options including management of cold water 
storage pools behind large dams and pulse flows. The permit 
modification request aims to address these needs by increasing the 
sample sizes and associated take, and by broadening the scope of 
studies to include additional life stages. Study 1 is a large scale 
telemetry project to assess habitat use, behavior and survival of 
hatchery- and natural-origin SRWR and CVSR Chinook salmon and CCV 
steelhead. Additional take associated with increased sample sizes will 
allow for better estimates of survival and identification of conditions 
that may be affecting juvenile salmonid emigration. Study 3 will 
measure the physiological capacity (aerobic scope and other 
cardiovascular capabilities) of hatchery-origin salmonids to deal with 
potential seasonal and geographic temperature challenges, by 
identifying their combined threshold tolerance to abiotic factors such 
as temperature, dissolved oxygen and flow. The SWFSC will use this data 
to determine sites where these factors may be limiting migration, 
survival and growth. This study requires that all fish tested be 
euthanized in order to collect the appropriate information and assess 
the aerobic scope. All euthanized fish will also be sampled for 
otoliths (age/growth), and organ tissue (isotope, biochemical and 
genomic expression assays), examined for parasite infections, and will 
contribute to tag effects/retention studies. The SWFSC proposes to 
broaden the scope of Study 3 through increased sample sizes and the 
addition of take for other life stages (eggs, fry, alevin, and parr). 
This additional take is in response to an urgent data gap on the 
temperature tolerance of these life stages. The proposed research will 
benefit ESA-listed fish by supporting conservation and management of 
anadromous salmonids and green sturgeon in California by directly 
addressing information needs identified by NMFS and other agencies.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will

[[Page 50610]]

evaluate the applications, associated documents, and comments submitted 
to determine whether the applications meet 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. NMFS 
will publish notice of its final action in the Federal Register.

    Dated: August 14, 2015.
Cathryn E. Tortorici,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-20616 Filed 8-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 161 / Thursday, August 20, 2015 / Notices                                            50607

                                              Comments on Alaska Regional Reports                     a meaningful population viability                     email: Amanda.Cranford@noaa.gov).
                                                                                                      analysis for North Pacific right whales.              Permit application instructions are
                                                 Comment 45: The Commission
                                                                                                        Dated: August 14, 2015.                             available from the address above, or
                                              recommended that NMFS reference in
                                                                                                      Cathryn E. Tortorici,
                                                                                                                                                            online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.
                                              the Alaska Region SARs any workshop
                                              reports or recommendations that came                    Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources,       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                              from meetings in December 2010 and                      National Marine Fisheries Service.                    Species Covered in This Notice
                                              March 2011, when NMFS partnered                         [FR Doc. 2015–20502 Filed 8–19–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                              The following listed species are
                                              with the Indigenous People’s Council on                 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                                                                                                                                            covered in this notice:
                                              Marine Mammals to convene two
                                                                                                                                                              Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus
                                              workshops of marine mammal hunters
                                                                                                      DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                tshawytscha): threatened Central Valley
                                              and representatives from Alaska Native
                                                                                                                                                            spring-run (CVSR); endangered
                                              Organizations.
                                                                                                      National Oceanic and Atmospheric                      Sacramento River winter-run (SRWR).
                                                 Response: We appreciate the                                                                                  Steelhead (O. mykiss): threatened
                                              recommendation and will review the                      Administration
                                                                                                                                                            California Central Valley (CCV);
                                              workshop reports and recommendations                    RIN 0648–XE098                                          North American green sturgeon
                                              from these meetings to determine                                                                              (Acipenser medisrostris): threatened
                                              whether to include any of this                          Endangered and Threatened Species;
                                                                                                                                                            southern distinct population segment
                                              information in future SAR revisions.                    Take of Anadromous Fish
                                                                                                                                                            (SDPS).
                                                 Comment 46: The Commission                           AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                              recommended that NMFS provide an                                                                              Authority
                                                                                                      Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                              update on the status of the development                 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                       Scientific research permits are issued
                                              of a statewide program for monitoring                   Commerce.                                             in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(A)
                                              subsistence hunting and harvests. The                   ACTION: Issuance of one permit and                    of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq) and
                                              Commission further recommended that                     receipt of four permit modification                   regulations governing listed fish and
                                              NMFS should update all related                          requests for scientific research and                  wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222–227).
                                              information in the SARs and address                     enhancement.                                          NMFS issues permits based on findings
                                              concerns about any potential                                                                                  that such permits: (1) Are applied for in
                                              shortcomings in these efforts. For                      SUMMARY:    Notice is hereby given that               good faith; (2) if granted and exercised,
                                              example, NMFS should clarify if the                     NMFS has issued Endangered Species                    would not operate to the disadvantage
                                              following statement from the ribbon seal                Act (ESA) scientific research Permit                  of the listed species that are the subject
                                              SAR is still accurate: ‘‘at this time, there            18251 to the Marine Science Institute.                of the permit; and (3) are consistent
                                              are no efforts to quantify the total                    Additionally, NMFS has received four                  with the purposes and policy of section
                                              statewide level of harvest of ribbon seals              scientific research and enhancement                   2 of the ESA. The authority to take
                                              by all Alaska communities.’’                            permit modification requests relating to              listed species is subject to conditions set
                                                 Response: NMFS agrees that a                         anadromous species listed under the                   forth in the permits.
                                              comprehensive statewide program for                     ESA. The proposed research activities                    Anyone requesting a hearing on an
                                              monitoring subsistence hunting and                      are intended to increase knowledge of                 application listed in this notice should
                                              harvests would be desirable, but is not                 the species and to help guide                         set out the specific reasons why a
                                              funded. NMFS works with our partners                    management and conservation efforts.                  hearing on that application would be
                                              in Alaska Native Organizations and the                  The application for each permit is                    appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such
                                              Alaska Department of Fish and Game to                   available on the Applications and                     hearings are held at the discretion of the
                                              obtain information for many                             Permits for Protected Species (APPS),                 Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
                                              subsistence-harvested marine mammal                     https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov Web site by                NMFS.
                                              species. While incomplete, these efforts                searching the permit number within the
                                                                                                                                                            Permits Issued
                                              provide some assurance that the current                 Search Database page. The applications
                                              and foreseeable levels of subsistence use               for each permit modification request                  Permit 18251
                                              are sustainable for all marine mammal                   may be viewed online at: https://                       A notice of the receipt of an
                                              species under NMFS jurisdiction that                    apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_                   application for a scientific research and
                                              are presently harvested.                                open_for_comment.cfm.                                 enhancement permit (18251) was
                                                 We have made considerable updates                    DATES: Comments or requests for a                     published in the Federal Register on
                                              of the subsistence harvest information                  public hearing on the applications must               March 10, 2014 (79 FR 13279). Permit
                                              in the draft 2015 ringed seal, ribbon                   be received at the appropriate address or             18251 was issued to the Marine Science
                                              seal, and bearded seal SARs, and we                     fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later                   Institute on June 30, 2014 and expires
                                              will update this information in the                     than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on                  on December 31, 2018. Permit 18251
                                              spotted seal SAR the next time it is                    September 21, 2015.                                   authorizes take of SRWR Chinook
                                              revised.                                                ADDRESSES: Written comments on the                    salmon smolts, CVSR Chinook salmon
                                                 Comment 47: For the SAR for the                      applications should be submitted to the               smolts, CCV steelhead smolts, and
                                              North Pacific stock of right whales, the                California Central Valley Office, NMFS,               juvenile SDPS green sturgeon associated
                                              Commission recommended that NMFS                        650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5–100,                        with monitoring and research activities
                                              estimate the range of ship-strike                       Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments may                    conducted in the Sacramento-San
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              probabilities and assess the results in                 also be submitted via fax to 916–930–                 Joaquin Delta, Central Valley, California.
                                              the context of this stock’s PBR level and               3629 or by email to nmfs.swr.apps@                    The purpose of the research is to
                                              a population viability analysis.                        noaa.gov (include the permit number in                educate local 6th graders and their
                                                 Response: Unfortunately, at this time                the subject line of the fax or email).                parents about the Delta ecosystem and
                                              there are no data with which to                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      to teach them how to be better stewards
                                              undertake this exercise and too few data                Amanda Cranford, Sacramento, CA (ph.:                 of the watershed. The students will go
                                              on other relevant variables to construct                916–930–3706), Fax: 916–930–3629,                     on a 3.5 hour voyage. During the voyage


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                                              50608                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 161 / Thursday, August 20, 2015 / Notices

                                              they will rotate through four stations:                 on Tisdale and Fremont weirs in the                   and monitoring efforts be added to
                                              Hydrology (discussion based), Benthic                   Sacramento River; and (3) Upper                       Permit 14808: (1) The Central Valley
                                              (mud grab and invertebrate study),                      Sacramento River Redd Dewatering                      Steelhead Monitoring Program, that
                                              Plankton (plankton tow and                              Surveys and Rescue of Stranded                        includes studies targeting CCV
                                              identification), and Ichthyology (Otter                 Juvenile Winter-run Chinook Salmon,                   steelhead throughout the Sacramento
                                              trawl and fish identification). During the              which allows CDFW biologists to                       River and San Joaquin River basins in
                                              Ichthyology station a five minute mid-                  predict the flow at which redds will be               order to examine the distribution,
                                              water trawl using an Otter trawl will be                dewatered on a redd-by-redd basis and                 abundance, and population trends of
                                              deployed to collect fish for the students               conduct rescues if necessary. Rescue                  CCV steelhead and provide the data
                                              to study. The net will be emptied by                    and relocation of ESA-listed fish will be             necessary to help assess progress
                                              instructional staff into a tank that is                 carried out using fyke traps, Alaskan-                towards restoration and recovery goals;
                                              constantly refilled with water from the                 style resistance board weirs, block nets,             and (2) Upper Sacramento River
                                              Delta. Any species of concern are then                  hoop nets, fyke nets, and beach seines.               Restoration Site Monitoring, which will
                                              identified and immediately released                     Observational surveys using dual                      establish baseline use at proposed
                                              back into the Delta. Fish are transferred               identification sonar (DIDSON) imagery                 restoration sites to help determine the
                                              from the tank back into Delta by buckets                may also be conducted if necessary. The               success once restoration projects are
                                              filled with water from the Delta to                     majority of captured fish would be                    implemented through juvenile
                                              minimize stress.                                        identified to species, enumerated,                    presence/absence surveys at a variety of
                                                                                                      measured for standard length, sampled                 sites on the Upper Sacramento River.
                                              Modification Requests Received                          for tissues and released. Juvenile SRWR               CDFW will conduct juvenile emigration
                                              Permit 18181—2M                                         and CVSR Chinook salmon would be                      monitoring through the use of paired 8-
                                                 The California Department of Fish                    identified using the Length-at-Date-of-               foot rotary screw traps (RSTs) on the
                                              and Wildlife (CDFW) is requesting to                    Capture Table. ESA-listed species                     Sacramento River beginning in October
                                              modify Permit 18181. Permit 18181 was                   would be processed first and released.                and continuing through June of the
                                              issued to CDFW on January 14, 2014 for                  Adult salmonids that are trapped during               following year. Traps will be fished
                                                                                                      rescue and relocation activities will be              continuously and checked once every
                                              take of CVSR Chinook salmon, SRWR
                                                                                                      sampled for tissues (genetics), tagged
                                              Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead, and                                                                            24 hours unless conditions such as high
                                                                                                      with two individually numbered Floy
                                              SDPS green sturgeon associated with                                                                           flows or excessive debris warrant more
                                                                                                      tags, and relocated to the nearest,
                                              research and rescue activities in the                                                                         frequent sampling. Captured salmonids
                                                                                                      accessible location on the Sacramento
                                              Upper Sacramento River and associated                                                                         will be handled (including
                                                                                                      River. If SDPS green sturgeon are
                                              tributaries in Shasta and Tehama                                                                              measurements), allowed to recover in
                                                                                                      encountered during rescue activities,
                                              counties, the Colusa Basin Drainage                                                                           fresh aerated water and released back
                                                                                                      acoustic tags will be surgically
                                              Canal (CBDC), Wallace and Fremont                                                                             into the Sacramento River. A small
                                                                                                      implanted by trained staff and data will
                                              weirs in the Yolo Bypass, and Tisdale                                                                         subsample of adipose fin-clipped
                                                                                                      be recorded on fish size, condition, and
                                              Weir in the Sutter Bypass. CDFW is                                                                            (hatchery-origin) Chinook salmon will
                                                                                                      time of release. To reduce handling
                                              requesting to modify Permit 18181 to                    mortality, investigators will conduct                 be sacrificed (directed mortality) daily
                                              include additional rescue and                           water to water transfers, use fish-                   for coded wire tag extraction and
                                              monitoring efforts that routinely occur                 friendly nets, avoid handling when                    analysis. The Steelhead Monitoring
                                              throughout the Central Valley. Further,                 possible, and release fish will at the                Program will utilize wire fyke traps to
                                              after conducting capture and relocation                 nearest suitable location to reduce                   capture, mark, and recapture upstream
                                              activities within the CBDC and at                       handling and transport times.                         migrating adult steelhead in order to
                                              Wallace Weir, the project description,                                                                        estimate adult steelhead escapement
                                              sampling methodologies and take                         Permit 14808–2M                                       from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River
                                              estimates can be refined to better reflect                 Permit 14808 was issued to CDFW on                 Delta. Fyke trapping will occur annually
                                              the current rescue operations. The                      September 26, 2012 for take of juvenile               from August through May. A DIDSON
                                              primary purpose of the proposed                         CVSR Chinook salmon, SRWR Chinook                     camera or device of similar capabilities
                                              monitoring will be to assess entrainment                salmon, and CCV steelhead while                       will be placed at the entrance to the fyke
                                              of ESA-listed salmonids and SDPS green                  conducting juvenile emigration                        traps to monitor salmonid movements
                                              sturgeon resulting from extreme                         monitoring at Knights Landing in the                  and assist in adjusting trap placement to
                                              environmental conditions and complex                    Lower Sacramento River, Yolo County,                  maximize capture rates. Traps will be
                                              water operations within California’s                    California. The permit modification is                fished 24 hours a day with all traps
                                              Central Valley. CDFW will assess the                    being requested in order to refine                    being inspected, cleaned, and emptied
                                              conditions leading to entrainment and                   sampling methods, increase take levels                at least once every 24 hours to minimize
                                              determine whether rescue and                            and address changes to the proposed                   the period of time steelhead are
                                              relocation activities are warranted. The                procedures. Additionally, CDFW                        detained. All captured steelhead
                                              rescue and relocation efforts proposed                  requested that all ongoing research and               (hatchery and wild) will be enumerated,
                                              are: (1) The CBDC Trapping and                          monitoring be consolidated into a single              weighed, measured, sexed (if possible),
                                              Relocation Operation, which aims to                     section 10(a)(1)(A) Permit to improve                 photographed for body condition,
                                              trap and relocate adult Chinook salmon                  efficiencies associated with reporting. In            checked for previous tags, and sampled
                                              and other species of management                         addition to the juvenile emigration                   for scales. Healthy steelhead captured in
                                              concern before they enter and become                    monitoring at Knights Landing, which                  good condition will receive a passive
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                                              entrained within the CDBC; (2)                          aims to compile information on timing,                integrated transponder (PIT) tag.
                                              Monitoring of Sacramento River Flood                    composition (species/race), and relative              Hatchery-origin steelhead will receive a
                                              Control Project Weirs and Flood Relief                  abundance of juvenile Chinook salmon                  two inch, individually numbered,
                                              Structures, bypasses are surveyed after                 and steelhead emigrating from the                     bicolor Floy tag posterior to the dorsal
                                              high flow events to determine the level                 Upper Sacramento River system into the                fin. A randomly selected subset of
                                              of entrainment and if warranted rescues                 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CDFW is                 captured steelhead will receive an
                                              will be conducted, with a specific focus                requesting that the following research                acoustic tag in addition to PIT and Floy


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 161 / Thursday, August 20, 2015 / Notices                                           50609

                                              tags to determine migration and survival                immediately collected from the                        the current threats posed to SRWR
                                              behavior. Individuals selected for                      sampling gears, placed in containers                  Chinook salmon including
                                              acoustic tagging will be surgically                     filled with river water collected at the              anthropogenic alterations of natural
                                              tagged with a VEMCO acoustic                            location being sampled, processed, held               flow regimes and climate change, these
                                              transmitter tag or similarly compatible                 in a recovery container filled with                   studies quantitatively measures the
                                              device in the abdomen posterior to the                  aerated river water, and subsequently                 capacity for adaptation of SRWR
                                              pelvic fins. Tag recapture monitoring in                released at the sampled location. One                 Chinook salmon juveniles to these
                                              Sacramento River tributaries will be                    exception includes the proposed                       conditions. The unprecedented
                                              performed using in-stream PIT tag                       intentional directed mortality of up to               conditions associated with the
                                              detection antennas. Current angler                      80 SRWR Chinook salmon juveniles                      California drought have exacerbated
                                              harvest surveys and hatchery                            associated with Study 6. The purpose of               these challenges, such that more
                                              broodstock collection programs                          the directed intentional mortality of                 detailed and finer resolution studies are
                                              combined with advances in tag                           SRWR Chinook salmon is to determine                   needed to evaluate the potential
                                              detection technology will allow                         potential mechanisms for reduced                      consequences of a range of water
                                              biologists to estimate the number of tag                survival in collaboration with the                    management options including
                                              recaptures to Sacramento River                          USWFS California-Nevada Fish Health                   management of cold water storage pools
                                              tributaries. All Upper Sacramento River                 Center. Extreme drought conditions and                behind large dams and pulse flows. The
                                              Restoration Site Monitoring will be                     poor in-river conditions appear to be                 permit modification request aims to
                                              observational and no handling of                        having adverse effects on emigrating                  address these needs by increasing the
                                              juvenile salmonids will occur. Sampling                 juvenile salmonids. Elevated water                    sample sizes and associated take, and by
                                              methods will include snorkel surveys,                   temperatures are likely increasing the                broadening the scope of studies to
                                              video surveys and DIDSON surveys. The                   prevalence of some bacteria and parasite              include additional life stages. Study 1 is
                                              survey results will help Restoration                    infections. USFWS will obtain up to 10                a large scale telemetry project to assess
                                              Ecologists design better projects in the                live juvenile winter-run Chinook                      habitat use, behavior and survival of
                                              future. Information collected will also                 salmon per week (for approximately 8                  hatchery- and natural-origin SRWR and
                                              help to determine locations where                       weeks) from RST monitoring carried out                CVSR Chinook salmon and CCV
                                              juvenile Chinook salmon are rearing                     at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam (Study                 steelhead. Additional take associated
                                              upstream of Red Bluff Diversion Dam.                    6), from early September through                      with increased sample sizes will allow
                                                                                                      October. The subsample of juveniles                   for better estimates of survival and
                                              Permit 1415–2M
                                                                                                      collected from the traps will be                      identification of conditions that may be
                                                 Permit 1415 was issued to the                        sacrificed in order to identify microbial             affecting juvenile salmonid emigration.
                                              USFWS, Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife                      (e.g. parasite and bacteria) and non-                 Study 3 will measure the physiological
                                              Office on February 6, 2014. The overall                 infectious (e.g. coagulative yolk, gill               capacity (aerobic scope and other
                                              purpose of the project is to provide                    hyperplasia) disease in the out-migrant               cardiovascular capabilities) of hatchery-
                                              monitoring data for various evaluations,                juvenile SRWR Chinook salmon                          origin salmonids to deal with potential
                                              including restoration actions, stream                   population passing the RSTs during the                seasonal and geographic temperature
                                              flow assessments, management actions,                   typical peak period. The low sample                   challenges, by identifying their
                                              and life-history investigations. Species                number proposed would likely limit                    combined threshold tolerance to abiotic
                                              under investigation include CVSR                        detection to high prevalence pathogens.
                                              Chinook salmon, SRWR Chinook                                                                                  factors such as temperature, dissolved
                                                                                                      The histological approach will provide                oxygen and flow. The SWFSC will use
                                              salmon, CCV steelhead, and SDPS green                   information on the severity of any given
                                              sturgeon while conducting research                                                                            this data to determine sites where these
                                                                                                      condition and is logistically prudent for             factors may be limiting migration,
                                              studies in Battle Creek, Clear Creek, and               the RST monitoring.
                                              the Upper Sacramento River Basin (i.e.,                                                                       survival and growth. This study requires
                                              Upper River and surrounding                             Permit 17299–2M                                       that all fish tested be euthanized in
                                              watersheds). The permit modification                       Permit 17299 was issued to the NMFS                order to collect the appropriate
                                              requested by USFWS is specific to                       Southwest Fisheries Science Center                    information and assess the aerobic
                                              Study 6—Sacramento River Juvenile                       (SWFSC), Fishery Ecology Division                     scope. All euthanized fish will also be
                                              Fish Monitoring at the Red Bluff                        (FED), on April 4, 2013 for research to               sampled for otoliths (age/growth), and
                                              Diversion Dam. All other studies                        be conducted at various sites and                     organ tissue (isotope, biochemical and
                                              authorized under Permit 1415 will                       hatcheries within California’s Central                genomic expression assays), examined
                                              remain unchanged at this time. Take                     Valley. The main purpose of the                       for parasite infections, and will
                                              resulting from the research and                         research conducted by the SWFSC is to                 contribute to tag effects/retention
                                              monitoring activities carried out by                    carry out comparative studies on                      studies. The SWFSC proposes to
                                              USFWS will involve observations                         salmonid ecology across all Central                   broaden the scope of Study 3 through
                                              (snorkel surveys, redd counts and                       Valley habitats (streams, rivers and                  increased sample sizes and the addition
                                              escapement/stream surveys) or capture                   Delta) to increase knowledge of                       of take for other life stages (eggs, fry,
                                              (by trawl, seine, fyke-net trap, benthic                California’s Chinook salmon and                       alevin, and parr). This additional take is
                                              D-net, substrate samplers, hook and                     steelhead life histories. The                         in response to an urgent data gap on the
                                              line, backpack electrofishing, weir trap,               modification request relates to the life              temperature tolerance of these life
                                              trammel or gill net, rotary screw trap,                 stages sampled and the total take                     stages. The proposed research will
                                              egg mats, or by dip net), handling                      associated with Studies 1 and 3                       benefit ESA-listed fish by supporting
                                                                                                                                                            conservation and management of
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                                              (sedation, fin clipping, tissue sampling,               authorized by Permit 17299. These
                                              coded-wire tag extraction, otolith                      studies include investigations into                   anadromous salmonids and green
                                              extraction), marking (Bismark brown Y                   outmigration survival based upon                      sturgeon in California by directly
                                              stain), tagging (acoustic, PIT), and                    telemetry technology and investigations               addressing information needs identified
                                              release of fish once adequately                         of the physiological response (as                     by NMFS and other agencies.
                                              recovered. A majority of the ESA-listed                 measured by aerobic scope) to varying                    This notice is provided pursuant to
                                              fish that are captured will be                          temperature and flow regimes. Given                   section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS will


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                                              50610                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 161 / Thursday, August 20, 2015 / Notices

                                              evaluate the applications, associated                   the office listed in the Addresses section            organization is committing to doing as
                                              documents, and comments submitted to                    of this Notice.                                       an Employer of National Service and
                                              determine whether the applications                      DATES: Written comments must be                       provide organizational information to
                                              meet the requirements of section 10(a)                  submitted to the individual and office                CNCS, the Peace Corps, the Points of
                                              of the ESA and Federal regulations. The                 listed in the ADDRESSES section by                    Light Foundation, the Aspen Institute
                                              final permit decisions will not be made                 October 19, 2015.                                     and the National Peace Corps
                                              until after the end of the 30-day                       ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,                   Association. The information in the
                                              comment period. NMFS will publish                       identified by the title of the information            form will also allow CNCS to display
                                              notice of its final action in the Federal               collection activity, by any of the                    the organization’s information
                                              Register.                                               following methods:                                    accurately online as a resource for job
                                                Dated: August 14, 2015.                                  (1) By mail sent to: Corporation for               seekers. It will also enable CNCS to
                                              Cathryn E. Tortorici,                                   National and Community Service;                       speak to the diversity within the
                                                                                                      Attention: Erin Dahlin, Deputy Chief of               program’s membership, both for internal
                                              Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources,
                                              National Marine Fisheries Service.                      Program Operations, Room 9309; 1201                   planning and external audience use.
                                                                                                      New York Avenue NW., Washington,                      The information will be collected
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–20616 Filed 8–19–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                      DC 20525.                                             electronically via our Web site.
                                              BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                                                                                         (2) By hand delivery or by courier to              Current Action
                                                                                                      the CNCS mailroom at Room 8100 at the
                                                                                                      mail address given in paragraph (1)                      This is a new information collection
                                              CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND                            above, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.                request. The items on the form are:
                                              COMMUNITY SERVICE                                       Eastern Time, Monday through Friday,                  Employer name; a short description of
                                                                                                      except Federal holidays.                              the employer; the sector in which the
                                              Proposed Information Collection;                                                                              employer operates (private, nonprofit,
                                                                                                         (3) Electronically through
                                              Comment Request                                                                                               etc.); location (specific address for
                                                                                                      www.regulations.gov.
                                              AGENCY: Corporation for National and                       Individuals who use a                              headquarters and list of additional
                                              Community Service.                                      telecommunications device for the deaf                cities/states or countries, if applicable);
                                                                                                      (TTY–TDD) may call 1–800–833–3722                     workforce information (total employees,
                                              ACTION: Notice.
                                                                                                      between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern               hires in last year, and number of
                                              SUMMARY:    The Corporation for National                Time, Monday through Friday.                          national service alumni); human
                                              and Community Service (CNCS), as part                                                                         resources policy commitment as an
                                                                                                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin
                                              of its continuing effort to reduce                                                                            Employer of National Service; contact
                                                                                                      Dahlin, 202–606–6931, or by email at
                                              paperwork and respondent burden,                                                                              information; a link to the Web page
                                                                                                      edahlin@cns.gov.
                                              conducts a pre-clearance consultation                                                                         where alums can apply for employment;
                                                                                                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CNCS is
                                              program to provide the general public                                                                         optional statement from leadership; the
                                                                                                      particularly interested in comments                   source from which the employer learned
                                              and federal agencies with an                            that:
                                              opportunity to comment on proposed                                                                            about the program, and any optional
                                                                                                         • Evaluate whether the proposed                    comments.
                                              and/or continuing collections of                        collection of information is necessary
                                              information in accordance with the                                                                               Type of Review: New.
                                                                                                      for the proper performance of the                        Agency: Corporation for National and
                                              Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                         functions of CNCS, including whether
                                              (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. Sec. 3506(c)(2)(A)).                                                                       Community Service.
                                                                                                      the information will have practical                      Title: Employers of National Service
                                              This program helps to ensure that                       utility;                                              Enrollment Form.
                                              requested data can be provided in the                      • Evaluate the accuracy of the                        OMB Number: None.
                                              desired format, reporting burden (time                  agency’s estimate of the burden of the                   Agency Number: None.
                                              and financial resources) is minimized,                  proposed collection of information,                      Affected Public: Any organization
                                              collection instruments are clearly                      including the validity of the                         seeking to join the Employers of
                                              understood, and the impact of collection                methodology and assumptions used;                     National Service program.
                                              requirement on respondents can be                          • Enhance the quality, utility, and                   Total Respondents: 300.
                                              properly assessed.                                      clarity of the information to be                         Frequency: Ongoing.
                                                Currently, CNCS is soliciting                         collected; and                                           Average Time per Response: 15
                                              comments concerning its proposed                           • Minimize the burden of the                       minutes.
                                              Employers of National Service                           collection of information on those who                   Estimated Total Burden Hours: 75
                                              Enrollment Form. The Employers of                       are expected to respond, including the                hours.
                                              National Service program is                             use of appropriate automated,                            Total Burden Cost (capital/startup):
                                              administered by CNCS (in conjunction                    electronic, mechanical, or other                      None.
                                              with the Peace Corps, the National                      technological collection techniques or                   Total Burden Cost (operating/
                                              Peace Corps Association, the Points of                  other forms of information technology                 maintenance): None.
                                              Light Foundation and the Aspen                          (e.g., permitting electronic submissions                 Comments submitted in response to
                                              Institute), and seeks to connect                        of responses).                                        this notice will be summarized and/or
                                              employers from all sectors with                                                                               included in the request for Office of
                                              AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni.                      Background
                                                                                                                                                            Management and Budget approval of the
                                              Organizations that are looking to join                    Organizations from all sectors seeking              information collection request; they will
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                                              the initiative will be filling out this form            to become Employers of National                       also become a matter of public record.
                                              in order to document their participation.               Service will be filling out this form,
                                              Information provided is purely                          including businesses, nonprofits,                       Dated: August 17, 2015.
                                              voluntary and will not be used for any                  institutions of higher education, school              Erin Dahlin,
                                              grant or funding support.                               districts, state/local governments, and               Deputy Chief of Program Operations.
                                                Copies of the information collection                  federal agencies. One of the form’s key               [FR Doc. 2015–20600 Filed 8–19–15; 8:45 am]
                                              request can be obtained by contacting                   purposes is to document what the                      BILLING CODE 6050–28–P




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Document Created: 2015-12-15 11:09:01
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 11:09:01
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionIssuance of one permit and receipt of four permit modification requests for scientific research and enhancement.
DatesComments or requests for a public hearing on the applications
ContactAmanda Cranford, Sacramento, CA (ph.: 916-930-3706), Fax: 916-930-3629, email: [email protected]).
FR Citation80 FR 50607 
RIN Number0648-XE09

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