[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 37052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17691]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 071095G]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of modification 3 to permit 847 (P211E), modification 
6 to permit 795 (P503A), modification 1 to permit 921 (P503P), and 
denial of modifications to permits 919 (P503N) and 922 (P503Q).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued three 
modifications to permits authorizing takes of listed species for the 
purpose of scientific research and enhancement, subject to certain 
conditions set forth therein, to the Oregon Department of Fish and 
Wildlife (ODFW) and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and 
has denied two permit modification requests from IDFG.

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 3 to permit 847, modification 6 
to permit 795, and modification 1 to permit 921 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).
    Notice was published on May 4, 1995 (60 FR 22051) that an 
application had been filed by ODFW (P211E) for modification 3 to permit 
847. Permit 847, issued on May 28, 1993, authorizes a take of listed 
Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) 
associated with supplementation programs at the Imnaha River and 
Lookingglass Creek Hatcheries. For modification 3, ODFW requested 
authorization to retain all of the adult listed salmon that return to 
the adult trap for broodstock in 1995 if the forecasted runsize of 
returning adults is less than 100. If the forecasted runsize of 
returning adults is greater than or equal to 100 in 1995, ODFW proposed 
to release 20 percent of the returning adult listed salmon above the 
adult trap for natural spawning, with no restriction on the percentage 
of hatchery-origin fish to be released.
    Modification 3 to permit 847 was issued on June 29, 1995 and is 
valid in 1995 only. Permit 847 expires on March 31, 1998.
    Notice was published on April 5, 1995 (60 FR 17316) that an 
application had been filed by IDFG (P503A) for modification 6 to permit 
795. Permit 795, issued on July 29, 1992, authorizes a take of listed 
species associated with scientific research and enhancement activities, 
including a captive broodstock program, with endangered Snake River 
sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). For modification 6, IDFG requested 
authorization to: (1) Release broodyear (BY) 1994 juvenile, listed, 
artificially-propagated, Snake River sockeye salmon, progeny of listed 
adults, directly into Redfish Lake in July, into net pens in Redfish 
Lake in July and then directly into the lake from the net pens in the 
fall, and directly into the lake in October; (2) release BY 1994 
juvenile sockeye progeny of listed adults directly into Pettit Lake in 
June, 1995; and (3) modify a condition in the permit requiring that an 
auxiliary water supply must accompany any vehicle used to transport 
listed sockeye salmon to pertain to the transport of listed adults 
only.
    Following a discussion with NMFS, IDFG agreed to modify the release 
schedule of listed sockeye salmon juveniles into Pettit Lake in 1995 by 
carrying out the releases approximately 3 weeks after the last rainbow 
trout have been stocked in the lake. This modified release schedule for 
Pettit Lake in 1995 will serve to minimize any potential adverse 
impacts to the listed fish due to interactions with trout.
    Modification 6 to permit 795 was issued on June 23, 1995. The 
juvenile, listed, sockeye salmon releases are authorized in 1995 only. 
The modified permit condition is valid for the duration of the permit. 
Permit 795 expires on July 31, 1997.
    Notice was published on May 4, 1995 (60 FR 22051) that an 
application had been filed by IDFG (P503P) for modification 1 to permit 
921. Permit 921, issued on June 16, 1994, authorizes a take of listed 
Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) 
associated with a supplementation program at McCall Hatchery. For 
modification 1, IDFG requested authorization to retain adult, listed, 
naturally-produced salmon that return to the adult trap for broodstock 
without any restrictions due to the annual forecasted runsize of 
returning adults. IDFG also requested authorization to release non-
listed, hatchery-origin adults above the adult trap at Stolle Meadows, 
if necessary, to meet the minimum target of 35 adult pairs to be 
released annually for natural spawning.
    Modification 1 to permit 921 was issued on June 30, 1995 and is 
valid for the duration of the permit. Permit 921 expires on December 
31, 1998.
    Notice was published on May 4, 1995 (60 FR 22051) that applications 
had been filed by IDFG for modifications to permits 919 (P503N, 
Sawtooth Hatchery) and 922 (P503Q, Pahsimeroi Hatchery), similar to the 
modification request of permit 921 described above. NMFS has denied 
these two permit modification requests because of the lack of a 
demonstrated adult-to-adult survival benefit from the rearing at these 
hatcheries. In addition, the take of adult listed fish for broodstock 
from these two watersheds may adversely impact the demographics of the 
naturally-spawning adults. Permits 919 and 922, and the respective 
takes of listed species authorized therein, will continue to be valid 
as written. Permits 919 and 922 expire on December 31, 1998.
    Issuance of these modifications, as required by the ESA, was based 
on a finding that such modifications: (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: July 12, 1995.
Robert C. Ziobro,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17691 Filed 7-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F