[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30520-30521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14130]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 060195B]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

[[Page 30521]] ACTION: Issuance of modification 1 to permit 895 
(P504D), an amendment of permit 947 (P504F), and modification 4 to 
permit 848 (P507D).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued modifications to 
permits and an amendment to a permit authorizing takes of listed 
species for the purpose of scientific research and enhancement, subject 
to certain conditions set forth therein, to the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (Corps), Department of Defense and the Washington Department 
of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR8, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and
    Environmental and Technical Services Division, F/NWO3, NMFS, 525 NE 
Oregon Street, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Modification 1 to permit 895, the amendment 
of permit 947, and modification 4 to permit 848 were issued under the 
authority of section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 
U.S.C. 1531-1543) and the NMFS regulations governing listed fish and 
wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 217-222).
    On May 22, 1995, modification 1 to enhancement permit 895 was 
issued by NMFS to the Corps (P504D). Permit 895 authorizes a take of 
juvenile Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha), juvenile Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha), and juvenile Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus 
nerka) associated with the barge transport of outmigrating juvenile 
anadromous fish past numerous hydroelectric projects on the Columbia 
and Snake Rivers to below Bonneville Dam.
    Modification 1 to permit 895 authorizes an increase in the take of 
these listed juvenile fish associated with barge transportation in 1995 
only, because the number of juvenile outmigrants appears to be higher 
than expected this year. This could be due to a greater overwinter 
survival of parr. Modification 1 to Permit 895 is valid for 1995 only. 
Permit 895 expires on December 31, 1998.
    On May 23, 1995, an amendment to scientific research permit 947 was 
issued by NMFS to the Corps (P504F). Permit 947 authorizes a take of 
juvenile, listed, artificially-propagated, Snake River spring/summer 
chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with a turbine 
passage survival study at Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River in 
Washington. The purpose of the research is to determine the immediate 
and delayed (48-120 hour) survival rates of run-of-the-river chinook 
salmon smolts passing through a turbine at the dam under different 
locations and operating conditions.
    The amendment of permit 947 allows Corps researchers to conduct 
their research during periods when the hydropower turbine units are 
operating outside of peak efficiency levels. Out-of-peak efficiency 
tests will provide necessary information for calibrating the Corps' 
Lower Granite Dam turbine model. Data on the survival of fish passing 
through turbines during such times will also be beneficial for use in 
future risk analyses. This amendment is valid for the duration of the 
permit. Permit 947 expires on August 31, 1995.
    On May 19, 1995, modification 4 to scientific research and 
enhancement permit 848 was issued by NMFS to WDFW (P507D). Permit 848 
authorizes a take of adult and juvenile, listed, Snake River spring/
summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from the Tucannon 
River in Washington for scientific research and supplementation of the 
wild stock. The research includes the application of radio tags and 
passive integrated transponder tags and the conduct of morphometric, 
meristic, pathologic, electrophoretic, snorkeling, electrofishing, and 
spawning surveys. Permit 848 also authorizes releases of the progeny of 
the listed adult salmon collected for broodstock.
    Modification 4 to permit 848 authorizes the retention of all of the 
listed adult salmon that return to the Tucannon Hatchery adult trap in 
1995 if the total adult returns to the trap in 1995 is less than 105 
fish. The 1995 forecast for total adult returns to the trap is 19-25. 
Monitoring and evaluations have shown about a three-to-one survival 
advantage for fish reared in the hatchery as compared to natural 
production. Based on this large survival advantage, and the fact that 
natural production has been at less than replacement levels in recent 
years, this level of adult take in 1995 and any subsequent 
artificially-propagated progeny production of these fish, will serve to 
perpetuate the listed species. WDFW must confer with NMFS as to the 
disposition of the listed adult fish retained in 1995 prior to the 
spawning of these fish. This adult retention strategy is valid for 1995 
only.
    Also for modification 4, WDFW is authorized for an increase in the 
annual take of listed juvenile salmon associated with their smolt 
trapping and monitoring research. The increase is necessary because 
WDFW researchers are now emphasizing the collection of marked hatchery 
fish to evaluate their outplanting program. In addition, higher than 
usual river flows in 1995 have resulted in higher trapping efficiencies 
and thus, a higher take associated with research. The increased take of 
listed juvenile fish is valid for the duration of the permit. Permit 
848 expires on March 31, 1998.
    Issuance of these permit actions, as required by the ESA, was based 
on a finding that such actions: (1) Were applied for in good faith, (2) 
will not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species that are the 
subject of the permits, and (3) are consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA and the NMFS regulations 
governing listed species permits.

    Dated: June 2, 1995.
Russell J. Bellmer,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-14130 Filed 6-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F