[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9178-9179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5046]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 022497C]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications for a scientific research permit 
(P770#72), modification 4 to research permit 900 (P770#66), and 
modification 2 to research permit 914 (P770#67).

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Coastal Zone and Estuarine 
Studies Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS in Seattle, 
WA (CZESD) has applied in due form for a permit and modifications to 
two permits authorizing takes of endangered and threatened species for 
scientific research purposes.

DATES: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on any of 
these applications must be received on or before March 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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
    Environmental and Technical Services Division, 525 NE Oregon 
Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232-4169 (503-230-5400).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing should be 
submitted to the Chief, Environmental and Technical Services Division, 
Portland.


[[Page 9179]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CZESD requests a permit and modifications to 
two permits 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).
    CZESD (P770#72) requests a permit for takes of juvenile, 
threatened, naturally-produced and artificially-propagated, Snake River 
spring/summer chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); juvenile, 
threatened, Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); 
and juvenile, endangered, Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus 
nerka) associated with two juvenile fish bypass studies at McNary Dam 
on the Columbia River. Study 1 proposes an evaluation of vertical 
barrier screens and outlet flow-control devices. Study 2 proposes to 
establish design criteria for improved wet-separator efficiency and 
high-velocity flume development. Based on the results from these bypass 
studies, guidance devices and bypass system components can be 
redesigned, modified, or deployed using specific configurations to 
enhance juvenile fish passage at hydroelectric powerhouses and 
subsequently, a potential improvement in downstream survival and adult 
returns. ESA-listed juvenile fish are proposed to be captured, 
anesthetized, handled, allowed to recover from the anesthetic, and 
released. Indirect mortalities are also requested. The permit is 
requested to be valid in 1997 only.
    For modification 4 to permit 900 (P770#66), CZESD requests to 
extend the duration of the take authorization for Study 8, the Trestle 
Bay habitat restoration study, through December 31, 1997. Although the 
authorization for takes of ESA-listed species associated with this 
study expired on December 31, 1996, permit 900 is not due to expire 
until December 31, 1998. No change in the type or number of ESA-listed 
species to be taken for the research is requested.
    For modification 2 to permit 914 (P770#67), CZESD requests an 
increase in the take of juvenile, threatened, Snake River spring/summer 
chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) associated with the 
evaluation of the effects of dissolved gas supersaturation on fish and 
invertebrates in Priest Rapids Reservoir and downstream from Bonneville 
Dam on the Columbia River and Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River. A 
larger sample of ESA-listed juvenile fish is proposed to be captured, 
anesthetized, and examined for signs of gas bubble disease to evaluate 
the potential mortality of juvenile salmonids migrating through these 
river reaches. Associated indirect mortalities is also requested to be 
increased. Modification 2 to permit 914 is requested for the duration 
of the permit. Permit 914 expires on December 31, 1998.
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on the request for a permit 
or any of the two permit modification requests 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 summaries are those of the applicant 
and do not necessarily reflect the views of NMFS.

    Dated: February 24, 1997.
Robert C. Ziobro,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-5046 Filed 2-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F