Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U. S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of receipt of a permit application; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that NOAA Fisheries has received an application for a permit to conduct research for scientific purposes from Michael Clarke, City of San Luis Obispo, CA. The requested permit would affect the South Central California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit of steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The public is hereby notified of the availability of the permit application for review and comment before NOAA Fisheries either approves or disapproves the application.

DATES:

Written comments on the permit application must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) on or before July 14, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov. Following the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following identifier: FRNpermits.lb@noaa.gov
• Mail: Protected Resources Division, NOAA Fisheries, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802.
• Fax: 562-980-4027.

Comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this rule may be submitted in writing to Anthony Spina, Protected Resources Division, NOAA Fisheries, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802 and to David Rostker, OMB, by email at David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov or by facsimile (Fax) to 202-395-7285

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Anthony Spina at phone number 562-980-4045 or e-mail: anthony.spina@noaa.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: Authority

Issuance of permits, as required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531B1543) (ESA), is based on a finding 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. Permits are issued in accordance with and are subject to the ESA and NOAA Fisheries regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).

Those individuals requesting a hearing on an application listed in this notice should provide the specific reasons why a hearing on that application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such a hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the permit action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA Fisheries.

Permit Application Received.

Michael Clarke has applied for a permit to take the South Central California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit of steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and tissue collection from this species during a 2-year study (2004 and 2005) of the abundance and distribution of juvenile steelhead in the San Luis Obispo Creek watershed, San Luis Obispo County, California. Michael Clarke proposes electrofishing and direct underwater observation using mask and snorkel as the methods for estimating abundance and distribution of juvenile steelhead, and has requested an annual non-lethal take of 1620 juvenile steelhead, and annual collection and possession of up to 100 juvenile steelhead tissue samples, with the total possession for both years not exceeding 200 tissue samples. The proposed research would conclude October 31, 2005.