Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Receipt of an application to modify an existing scientific research/enhancement permit (1097) and request for comment.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application for a permit modification from Cressey and Associates in El Cerrito, CA (1097). The modified permit would affect two Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of salmonids identified in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit modification application for review and comment before a final approval or disapproval is made by NMFS.

DATES:

Written comments on the permit application must be received no later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on May 2, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments on the modification request should be sent to the appropriate office as indicated below. Comments may also be sent via fax to the number indicated for the request. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the internet. The applications and related documents are available for review in the indicated office, by appointment: For permit 1097: Daniel Logan, Protected Species Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 6528 (ph: 707 575 6053, fax: 707 578 3435). Documents may also be reviewed by appointment in the Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 3226 (301 713 1401).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Daniel Logan at phone number 707-575-6053, or e-mail: dan.logan@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 1543) (ESA), is based on a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) are applied for in good faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species which are the subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits. Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject to the ESA and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).

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

Species Covered in This Notice

This notice is relevant to the following two threatened salmonid ESUs: threatened Central California Coast coho salmon O. kisutch and threatened Central California Coast steelhead O. mykiss.

Modification Request Received

Cressey and Associates requests a modification to permit 1097 for takes of juvenile ESA-listed coho salmon and steelhead associated with studies monitoring the ecology of salmonids in Austin Creek, a tributary of the Russian River in Sonoma County, CA. Cressey and Associates has proposed using electrofishing and snorkel surveys. Presently, permit 1097 authorizes take of adult and juvenile Central California Coast coho salmon, Southern Oregon/Northern California Coasts coho salmon, and Southern California steelhead associated with various scientific research projects in California. Without modification, permit 1097 expires June 30, 2003. This requested modification would add authorization for research activities in the Russian River watershed and extend the expiration of permit 1097 until June 30, 2008.