[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 251 (Monday, December 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68721-68722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33178]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 122396D]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of an application for modification 1 to scientific 
research permit 991 (P599) and issuance of an amendment of enhancement 
permit 747 (P45H).

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the California Department of Water 
Resources in Sacramento, CA (CDWR) has applied in due form for 
modification 1 to scientific research permit 991 and that an amendment 
of enhancement permit 747 was issued to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service in Sacramento, CA (FWS) authorizing takes of an endangered 
species.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the 
modification application must be received on or before January 29, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review in the following offices, by appointment:
    Office of Protected Resources, F/PR3, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); and
    Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, 
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310-980-4016).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing should be 
submitted to the Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of 
Protected Resources.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CDWR requests modification 1 to permit 991, 
and the amendment of permit 747 was 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 ESA-listed fish and wildlife 
permits (50 CFR parts 217-227).

[[Page 68722]]

    For modification 1 to permit 991, CDWR (P599) requests an 
additional annual take of juvenile, endangered, Sacramento River 
winter-run chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with a 
new scientific research study. CDWR proposes a fisheries study of the 
Yolo Bypass, a floodplain adjacent to the Sacramento River where large 
numbers of salmon are trapped when high flows recede. The objectives of 
the study include estimation of the number of juvenile salmon diverted 
to, and successfully emigrating from, the Bypass; identification of 
habitats in the Bypass used for salmon rearing; estimation of the 
number of salmon trapped in the Yolo Bypass after floodwaters recede; 
and measurement of salmon growth and feeding in the Bypass versus the 
Sacramento River. Study results will be used to provide recommendations 
for ecosystem restoration options, to identify actions to minimize 
adverse effects to juvenile salmon, and to make habitat restoration 
efforts as harmless to fish as possible. ESA-listed fish will be 
captured in the Yolo Bypass, handled, and released in the mainstem 
Sacramento River. A percentage of associated indirect mortalities is 
also requested. Modification 1 is requested for the duration of the 
permit. Permit 991 expires on June 30, 1999.
    On November 27, 1996, NMFS amended FWS's enhancement permit 747 
(P45H) extending the expiration date of the permit. Permit 747 was 
issued to FWS on August 8, 1991 and was due to expire on November 30, 
1996. Permit 747 authorizes annual takes of adult and juvenile, 
endangered, Sacramento River winter-run chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha) associated with an artificial propagation program at FWS's 
Coleman National Fish Hatchery and a captive broodstock program. In 
October, 1996, FWS applied for a new permit (P45W) to replace permit 
747 (61 FR 53899, October 16, 1996). However, due to the time required 
to process the new permit request, permit 747 would have expired before 
the new permit could be issued. To avoid a lapse in FWS's endangered 
species take authorization, permit 747 was amended to expire on January 
31, 1997.
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on the permit modification 
request should set out the specific reasons why a hearing 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 above application summary are 
those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect the views of 
NMFS.

    Dated: December 23, 1996.
Barbara Schroeder,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-33178 Filed 12-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F